Lesvos Refugee Crisis Appeal
Fundraising campaign by
Ariana Faris
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£4,734.00raised of £10,000.00 goal goal
No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities
Refugee families since summer 2015 and into early part of 2016 have been arriving 1000 + a day on the Greek island of Lesvos fleeing from Syria and Afghanistan resulting in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. We sisters Julie, midwife and Ariana, psychotherapist worked with a group of local volunteers in the village of Molyvos in September.
Since this weekend of 20 March 2016 the situation on Lesvos has changed dramatically with the onset of the new EU/Turkey deal, meaning the camps on Lesvos have been turned into closed detention centres run by the army and police. Large NGOS such as UNHCR and Medicine Sans Frontiers have pulled out as they are not prepared to support this situation which is opposed to humanitarian principles and rights to asylum.
Many refugees have now arrived in Athens with no infrastructure to support them. We have heard there are 6000 plus refugees with no facilities or resources in the port of Piraeus. Myself,Ariana and my husband Jeff and friend Sabina are changing our plans to volunteer in Lesvos and will be arriving in Athens on Easter monday and providing aid and assistance there in the first instance. It maybe that we then go on to help in some of the other camps that are being set up in mainland Greece.
All funds raised will go directly to helping refugees in the following ways
Providing essentials: food , emergency first aid ( including providing medicines and emergency equipment like emergency blankets) , shelter( tarpaulins etc) transport, help and advice, psychological support, warm clothing and shoes.
All our own expenses such as flights, food, accomodation etc will be paid by ourselves and will not come out of donations (we may support volunteers who are willing to go to Greece to volunteer who have medical expertise with some transport and accomodation costs if they would struggle to fund themselves).
We are so grateful for all the people who have already supported this appeal and to those who are joining us now in our effort to make a difference.
Donors
- Kirsty McGovern
- Donated on Mar 25, 2016
- Guest
- Donated on Mar 24, 2016
Pireaus and Idomeni
Update posted by Ariana Faris at 06:18 amWe are now in Idomeni having spent about 8. Days in Piraeus port where 4000-5000 people have been staying for nearly 6 weeks now . The conditions are extremely difficult with people having had no access to showers for a month, the good news is that a mobile unit with. . . . .
Changing conditions for refugees in Greece
Update posted by Ariana Faris at 07:56 amThe crisis in Greece has taken a dramatic turn since the EU /Turkey deal completed this weekend. Camps in Lesvos that were being organised and run with assistance of NGOs and volunteers providing essential humanitarian aid have been turned into closed detention centres run by police and army and the. . . . .
End of the year update 2015
Update posted by Ariana Faris at 04:55 pmYou haven't heard from us for a while but we have been busy and just wanted to take the chance to update you on our efforts and plans. In December we were involved in two events in Cardiff speaking about the refugee crisis in Lesvos and our work there: the. . . . .
Working at Moria Camp
Update posted by Ariana Faris at 05:19 amwe spent the day at Moria camp which is for non Syrian refugees. We worked in collaboration with Medicins du Monde, triaging the Medical cases to the doctor and treating more minor issues ourselves. The worst case we saw who went straight for medical attention was an 8 year girl. . . . .
Update 12th September
Update posted by Ariana Faris at 05:20 amThe last couple of days we have entered a period of transition as many people are now arriving and staying at the bustop sometimes for 24 hours waits for buses that are arriving intermittently. There are no facilities: No water tap or toilets as the local council fears this area. . . . .
Finally buses arrive!
Update posted by Ariana Faris at 08:29 pmSo we have been here three days and are beginning to get the hang of things. Yesterday conditions in Mytilene where people have to register were at boiling point because all processing of documents had stopped. Very hard to persuade people to stay in Molyvos which is a safer place. . . . .
Link to Help for Refugees in Molyvos
Update posted by Julie Osborne at 05:16 pmIf you would like to read more about the work of the team of volunteers we are joining please visit https://www.facebook.com/HelpForRefugeesInMolyvos
Donors & Comments
- Gordon James
- Donated on Apr 09, 2016
We greatly admire your efforts.
- Kirsty McGovern
- Donated on Mar 25, 2016
- Guest
- Donated on Mar 24, 2016
- Sophie Vlacos
- Donated on Mar 24, 2016
Well done Ariana and Julie! Wishing you all the best on your trip!
- Raine Trott
- Donated on Dec 24, 2015
Amazing work!
- Leah Gilly
- Donated on Dec 24, 2015
Happy birthday to Mum and Dad :)
- Eileen Ashcroft
- Donated on Dec 24, 2015
- P BREESE
- Donated on Dec 22, 2015
- LouAnne Lachman
- Donated on Dec 12, 2015
Thank you so much for providing the care you are providing. I'm so glad you are there!!!
- Cherry Stewart
- Donated on Nov 22, 2015
with love and hope Cherry xx
We greatly admire your efforts.