The refugee crisis is seldom mentioned in US news these days. But my husband and I have spent a lot of time on the Greek island of Lesvos. So we have been watching the situation unfold on the internet and BBC news. And it appears that a humanitarian crisis is looming.
With a population of just 86,000, Lesvos has been a main entry point for refugees and migrants, as it is just 10 kilometers from Turkey. More than 300,000 people made the risky trip this year, packed onto small boats and flimsy dinghies. There have been hundreds of deaths; on October 28, 29 people (including 14 children) died off Lesvos.
And the flow of refugees is increasing. More than a third of the arrivals -- 111, 146 -- came in October alone. As many as 7,000 refugees are now arriving daily. It's almost a stampede, as people try to use the window of opportunity before winter, in fear that borders may close. And as weather conditions worsen, smugglers are reportedly offering off-season discounts.
Most refugees arrive in the north of Lesvos -- between Eftalou and Skala Sikamineas, if you're familiar with the island. Volunteers help them from the boats or the water, and tend to the injured. Buses then transfer them to camps, where they are registered. The plan is for them to spend a couple of days in camps before they catch the ferry to Athens and continue their trip to Europe.
The huge recent influx, however, and a spell of rainy weather, coupled with a 4-day ferry strike, has overwhelmed the camps. People are sleeping outside and conditions are deplorable. The island has received no funds from the EU, so all food and supplies are provided by residents or donations. Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee and numerous other charities and volunteer groups are running their own operations on the island and would welcome donations.
We contacted a friend on Lesvos asking how best to donate, and he suggested www.Odysseas.at. This is a non-profit organization based in Berlin. Odysseas was initially organizing only education programs for young refugees but now is supporting survival programs on Lesvos. If you click on the left at “Spenden” you will find the IBAN code for officially transferring any support. But in the US, this requires a wire transfer with a hefty fee. So we opted for one of the organizations listed above.
I know that refugees are living in deplorable conditions in many places, but since I have a personal connection with Lesvos, I felt I needed to share this story.
And I'd like to add that Lesvos is a beautiful island, well worth visiting. These generous people could certainly use some tourist dollars in 2016, by which time hopefully the refugee situation is under control.