Day 2 On-site assistance - Lesbos

Before we report on today, we would like to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of our hearts. For keeping us all dignified through your contribution. It is so incredibly gratifying, loving. And it goes directly to people in greatest need. THANK YOU! Who still wants to

Doro Blancke AT 93 3842 0000 0002 7516 Subject: Lesbos

The day started as usual in the kitchen/tavern of Home for all. Unpacking food, sorting it into boxes, then packing it into the cars. At 2pm we set off for the Jungles. These trips pass in silence, each of us in our own thoughts and yet in strengthening, loving fellowship. Each of us knows that we are now seeing conditions again that we cannot simply "put away". And yet we know that in this cruel situation, for which politicians are responsible, we are doing the best we can for the people on the run.

We are nervous, because the reports of "everyone must go to the camp", if they are not willing they are "starved out", no food, no water and at some point the riot police come, until "no, only families, because there is only room for 5,000 people, actually so far there is only room for 2,000. A prison behind NATO's fence. A young Afghan woman writes to me "I want to meet you, what should we do?

Today we have rice with carrots and chickpeas. We get out, are greeted with smiles " hello, hello, thank you so much" and I almost sink into the ground with shame that people thank each other so sincerely for a single meal.

The children know us from yesterday, they smile at us, the sentence "please make a line" doesn't really have to be said. Everything works, the people trust that everyone will get something. We are amazed, many are missing, they have made the 8 km journey towards the new camp.

Everyone here is still without water, without food, sometimes living in the burnt huts of Moria or in the olive groves. Newborns, children whose parents hold them close, the only thing they have left to offer them, their love.

The conversation with a father from Afghanistan, why he didn't want to go to the camp? We will go, our home is a camp, we are refugees" ....(.punch in the chest. ) we are still waiting, he says, everything is badly organised, stressful, you stand in line with the children in the blazing sun, for registration.

Today we also ordered 5000 masks from your money, for the people here in the open. All the politicians talk about Covid 19, but no one thinks it is worth the effort to protect the refugees. And we will get nappies, the mothers don't get that either. Not even nappies for the babies, the youngest I saw today, just 1 month old.

On the way home, we are silent again. This misery, in Europe to boot, this political game, without a sensible, humane solution in sight, takes my breath away at times.

A day draws to a close, we plan, organise for tomorrow, Helga and I discuss where and how we can best bring in funds and our labour, make a lot of phone calls, inform the media and then we drink an 1/8 of wine together. There is no real joy, the concern for the people in the Jungles and for the dignity of our country and the EU is too great.

#HumanRights #lesbos #HomeforAll #HelpOnLocation

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