March 20, 2020

Good Afternoon,

I am writing to you from the frontline of the frontline - as the head of a medical organization operating in Moria Camp, on the Greek island of Lesvos. The camp is currently 1000% over capacity - approximately 20,000 people live in an area meant for fewer than 3,000. The density of the area is in line with many developing countries. The standard of living is on par with slums I worked in throughout urban Africa. Humanitarian standards do not exist. In the past two months the island has seen arson, violent attacks, beatings - against foreign workers, journalists, and refugees. The last documented incident was less than two weeks ago, and as such, hundreds of volunteers and NGOs left, fearing for the safety of their staff. What remains is a skeletal support group who now remain to assist those still stuck in Moria Camp. With the advent of Covid-19, nearly every service except for food distribution and medical care has ceased. The organizations who remain are depending on only a handful of volunteers to carry out tasks that, just a month ago, fell into the hands of hundreds.

I am writing to you as a coordinator of a medical organization that has been working to create an emergency medical space to ease the burden on the local healthcare system. Ultimately, we have reached a global pandemic at the very worst time. No medical actors currently operating have the capacity, resources, funds, or staff to handle what will come next: an outbreak of the virus in a camp with not enough water, no soap, not enough food, and inadequate shelter. When Covid-19 hits Moria Camp, I anticipate it will reach headlines across the world.

My appeal to you is strictly humanitarian: we are in urgent need of the very resources we lack. Knowing we can not access additional staff due to travel restrictions, nor can we access enough medical supply or equipment for refugees (and perhaps the local Lesvos population) puts us in a position of detriment, despair, and finally, defeat.

Having been active in humanitarian settings for fourteen years, and with a Masters Degree focused on NGOS and refugee camps, I have learned the balance between sustenance and crisis. This is a crisis at our doorstep. As a specialist in this area, I implore you to please help us with the provision of finances to purchase medical equipment and medication. In-kind donations are very welcomed, though I fear that in the race against Covid-19, and the other medical problems that it will highlight, we may be too late to rely on postage services.

Thank you very much for your time.

In humanity and solidarity,

Katie Muirhead