Dear friends and family, 

As many of you might know, I am currently working in Lesbos in the Refugeecamp Kare Tepe (also known as Moria 2.0). Our medical team is doing its best by providing our refugees with medical care, but conditions are very tough. Our capacity for blood sampling for instance has been limited to 10 patients per week and further diagnostics can only be performed by matter of exception. We treat the patients with medications given to our organisation by donation, which means that the right treatment ist often not available. Most of our patients suffer from mental illnesses due to the trauma they have gone through in their homecountry, thinking of PTSS, suicide, severe panick attacks and conversion. The NGOs running the psychological support have reached their maximum capacity and waitinglists have increased up to 3-4 months.

The living conditions for the refugees are nothing better. 7000 people are living close to each other in 3m2 tents, even in winter in freezing conditions. There is still children walking around without shoes or proper clothing. I encounter alot of patients with eye problems because of the dusty surfaces they are living on, but with money given by donations we buy them cheap sunglasses. But most of all I was shocked when hearing that we have minors in the camp, mainly boys of 13-14 years old, who lost their parents during the crossing or due to war in their country. Those children have been given an 'aldult passport' by the Greek authorities, which means they can no longer be classified as vulnerable and they will not be automatically entiteled to asylum. With those adult papers those children are doomed to a place in the tent with other singel adult man, where they get abused and exploited for sexual reasons. 

Quite a few friends and relatives asked me if they could be of any help by sending donations for instance. We would be delighted by every donation made, even the smallest gesture in this environment makes a big difference. The money raised through this platform I'll be using to buy shoes for the children, a wheelchair for one of our paralyzed patients, or to cover the costs of the consultation for one of my patients who needs to see an eyedoctor in hospital. By buying through local suppliers we also try to support the Greek economy. 

We do not expect anybody to make big donations, a few euros is already much appreciated.

Big thumbs up for your help!!! 

Ireen