Learn. Understand. Act.
GAiN helping refugees in Camp Moria
Who is GAiN?
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GAiN stands for 'Global Aid Network' and describes itself as a worldwide Christian relief and development organisation focusing on poor and marginalised people all around the globe. Since 1998, GAiN has supported people after significant disasters such as Haiti's earthquake in 2010 and victims of the Syrian war.
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What project are we fundraising for?
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GAiN is currently helping over 25,000 refugees in Camp Moria, a place meant for only 3,000. Many volunteers had to leave due to travel restrictions. Global Aid Network is doing everything they can, but resources are scarce. Social distancing and even regular hand-washing are virtually impossible - one water tap is used by up to 1,300 people, one toilet by about 176. Healthcare is almost inaccessible. With the increasing spread of the Coronavirus, thousands of vulnerable people need your help more than ever.
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What can you do?
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Collectively, we're hoping to fundraise 10,000€ which will provide 200 beds, 500 underwear kits, 4 toilet facilities and urgently needed diapers.
Someone might only be a fiver away from getting what they need to get through this crisis, so every contribution counts.
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A brief history of Camp Moria
The European Refugee crisis began in 2016 when over 360 000 people fleeing conflict zones, such as Syria and Afghanistan, crossed the Mediterranean sea in attempts to get to Europe. As of 2019, the number of incoming migrants has decreased to 63 311. So, on the surface, it might seem that crisis is coming to an end. For many, however, that is far from the truth.
Most refugees come to Europe through Turkey and have to pass the Greek Island of Lesbos on their way to the rest of the continent. The refugees are forced to remain on the island until their asylum claims are approved; most that arrive end up in the infamous Lesbos Refugee camp- Moria.
In October of 2018, there were 8,300 asylum seekers housed in Moria, and the number was already over the camp’s capacity of 3,000. As of March 2020, there are over 20,000 in the camp and another 450 are currently being detained on the ship that just arrived from Turkey. This comes after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey opened the country’s borders allowing migrants to pass through. Before now, the situation was maintained by the EU-Turkey Deal. Under this deal, Turkey agreed to take back migrants who enter Greece, and instead only ‘legal’ refugees to EU. Now, however, there are fears that the agreement might completely collapse.
Meanwhile, the island remains the epicenter of the refugee crisis. The people in the camp live in dire conditions and are plagued by constant uncertainty. Just last month, a fire broke out and burned down the community center - killing a small child in the process and devastating the people in Moria.
The conditions of the overfilled camp are almost sub-human. There is no access to hot water or soap, and there are not enough beds- many don’t even have tents to sleep under and so are forced to sleep on the ground. If COVID-19 breaks out in the camp, it would be almost impossible to control the spread. Moreover, like many doctors who have worked at Moria stress - many people in the camp have underlying conditions; thus, for them catching the virus could be fatal.