Help refugees arriving in Lesbos

This summer has been dominated by media coverage of hundreds of thousands of refugees arriving on the shores of southern Europe with many other boats sinking in the Mediterranean and countless lives lost. Since January, 160,000 refugees have arrived in Greece, whose people are also suffering under crushing austerity. Due to the total lack of a coherent EU policy to deal with these numbers of desperate people, many of whom are fleeing Isis atrocities in their home countries, volunteers and charity are stepping up to cover the shortfall. But it is becoming increasingly hard to cope.

On 8 September I will arrive on Lesbos, one of the Greek islands that has borne the brunt of the boat arrivals, to volunteer my time for a month helping local volunteers there to ensure that new arrivals are fed, clothed and offered shelter. I want these people to be welcomed to safety with kindness, rather than the hostility and vitriol we so often hear from our media and political leaders.

I will be bringing as many items of clothing to donate as my airline luggage allows which is not much, to be honest. So that's where you come in. I am covering my own travel, accommodation and living costs during my time in Lesbos, but I want to bring a hefty donation with me to help to pay for nappies, clothes, shoes, shelter, sleeping bags, medicine and anything else the refugees need. These items will be bought on Lesbos, thus helping out the beleaguered Greek economy as well. All money raised will go to help the refugees with whatever is needed at the time.

For on the ground updates on the situation in Lesbos, please visit the Facebook page "Help for refugees in Molyvos".

If you don't wish to make a financial contribution, please can you share this page anyway so others can donate, and you can send also items for refugees to this address in Lesbos (lists of what is currently required can be found on the Facebook page above):

Hellenic Postal Office of Mythymna, ℅ The Captain's Table, Molyvos 81108, Lesvos, Greece

(For copyright purposes, the brilliant cartoon I have used is by the super talented Simon Kneebone)

Thank you so much for your help!