Terror, no matter who it comes from, affects us all deeply.
All of us! All the more important, and probably the only sensible solution, is that we unite, do not give the divisive a chance in any way, also take people seriously with all their fears and remain in dialogue.
The following story shows how much such events stun us, no matter where we come from.
One of the young Afghans in the #KaraTepe camp, who works with us every day, interpreting, packing and distributing food, translating people's concerns for us, writing lists of the tents, where who lives, which residents, children, babies, etc., writes to me in the morning how sorry he is that we have to experience this in our country. He writes to me in the morning how sorry he is that we have to experience this in our country and that he feels deepest sympathy for the people who were killed, the injured and all the relatives. He also writes how terrible he finds it and how sad it all makes him. I too am in mourning, my sympathy is with all those who have lost people or whose loved ones have been injured.
When we arrive at the camp in the afternoon to distribute the things as usual, the young man from Afghanistan is already there waiting for us. As soon as I look into his face, I see sadness and despair, more than usual. Sometimes you have to stop working, you have to let time stand still and turn to what is at hand. This was such a moment.
The moment I ask M. if he is not "well" today (I must say, given the circumstances in KaraTepe, this question always seems strange to me), this lovely young man loses his composure for the first time since I have known him.
He stands in front of me, in the middle of the noise, the misery, the pain of this place #Moria2 and cries bitterly. He explains to me in tears how terribly sad he finds everything, here people "beg" for clothes, nappies, for existential things, they are not heard that they had to flee from terrorist attacks in their country, in Austria a "madman" kills people and almost at the same time there was a terrorist attack on a university in Kabul/Afghanistan in which over 20 young people were killed. M. says all these things while he cannot hold back the tears. His question: " how are we supposed to endure all this?" remains unanswered.
The hours in the camp were even more stressful than usual. The many people here, most of them from countries where they had to flee from just such terror. Treated by Europe like "unwanted intruders". People who are deprived of all human rights here in Europe. A young man from Afghanistan next to me who wishes us and himself nothing more than peace and cohesion. He supports our work here on a daily basis as a volunteer and, without talking about his cruel situation, expresses his sincere sympathy to me via WhatsApp that we in Vienna, in Austria, had to experience this pain.
When I later read the tweet by Oliver Scheiber, lawyer and journalist, on Twitter "At least 22 students were killed yesterday in a terrorist attack on the university in Kabul. Terror is the rule in Afghanistan, unlike in Austria, not the exception. If we want to continue to send people who have fled this horror to Afghanistan", then despite all the helplessness, the sadness, I feel very supported and know that we are embedded in a community that has not given up hope for a peaceful society, respect for human rights, and has not yet lost the courage to address things even in very delicate, complex situations. Nice to know people like Oliver Scheiber and M. with and among us. #StopDeportationToAfghanistan #AfghanistanIsNotSafe
It is up to all of us to look at the great challenges of today in mutual, human goodwill, in the sense of working for peace, and to shape and allow solutions. Let us dare to do this.
Lesbos, Afghanistan , Austria, Greece, EU, let's show humanity, let's insist on human rights and unite in what we are, as human beings.
Thank you to all who strive for this every day. Even though everything here in KaraTepe on Lesbos is hard to bear, both here and through deportations to high-risk areas like Afghanistan, we never forget: it is up to all of us.
We are all together the bringers of peace for tomorrow, thank you!
M. still had no asylum procedure here in Moria. If anyone would like to support his legal representation so that he gets the chance for a peaceful, new life here, please send a bank transfer to
Doro Blancke, AT93 3842 0000 0002 7516 Subject: Legal advice "M
Anyone who would like to support our work here on the ground #direkteHilfe for the people, simply subject: Lesbos
Heartfelt thanks, Doro