Lesvos
Lesvos
stands
together!
Lesvos matters!
Lesvos has a long immigration tradition and being a so-called hotspot of 24 000 refugees, the citizens of this island are used to a lot of suffering and hardship. Now we are dealing with its newest arrival, namely coronavirus.
Lesvos says no to corona – OXI! With belief and conviction we are trying to confront the fight head on with the tools that we have: Young refugees from left alone countries like Afghanistan or Syria try to do the unthinkable – find ways to deal with this pandemic threat within an area where no WHO-advice against COVID-19 can be followed. The camp is totally overcrowded, it has no proper water supply, it is filled with garbage and thousands of people live in improvised tents.
THIS IS OUR MESSAGE TO EUROPE: LESVOS MIGHT STAND ALONE, BUT NOTHING IS LOST, – AND IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO SHOW SOLIDARITY!
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Initiated by local teachers, professors, and small business owners Stand By Me Lesvos started 2015 working with refugees. As members of the community of Lesvos they know the difficult economic situation faced by the people of Lesvos, and the difficulties of the refugees arriving here. 2016 the Academia close to Moria Camp was established, a school project where women and children found a quite place for learning and escape the Camp for some hours. Classes run by international volunteers, students and local teachers till March 2020, due the Corona Crises the place turned into a sewingfactory where women started producing masks for the refugees and the habitants of Moria and Mytilini.
The Moria Corona Awareness Team (MCAT) aka Moria White Helmets ties up on the tradition of the civil Syrian organization, is taking care for the waste management and sanitation – all working hard to prevent the spread of coronavirus on the island. They are a group of people in Moria Camp in Lesvos who are organizing themselves to face the Corona Crisis. The teams are cooperating with the Greeks and organization who want to help. They are teachers, pharmacists and other professionals from many nationalities.
Refugee Corona Information Resource (CIR) is an international collaborative network providing pertinent information about corona virus, for refugees living in Greece.
The Leros Corona Awareness Team (LCAT) help refugees in Leros. More than 2000 are almost forgotten there on this remote islands. But they also don’t want to just wait until disaster is coming and take things in their hand.
Omid Raihan Alizada (30)
Kabul, Afghanistan
Omid studied and worked as a pharmacist in Kabul; due to political troubles he had to leave his country. He is married and came to Lesvos with his 4 year old son, his 25 years old wife and his sister in law in November 2018 via Iran and Turkey, where he tried his living in Yalovah. They arrived in December 2019 after they´ve tried to cross the sea nine times and got caught by the Turkish border control who arrested them. The 10th try was successful, after spending three nights in a wilderness close to the sea without food and just some water. He is giving a lot of knowledge and input into the awareness campaign and is helping to install first aid classes in the camp to make it a safer place in the time of Corona Crises.
“Moria made me speechless, this was far beyond my idea of Europe.”
Roody Alobeed (45)
Deir-ez-Zor, Syria
“I like my work helping. This is my duty to let them smile. In Moria Camp I´m the Arabs community leader specially for Syrians. I am also the Coordinator for Moria White Helmets Team and Member of MCAT Team, too.” Roody worked as a HSE & QC Advisor (Safety Advisor) for several US-oilcompanys in his country. In the war he lost everything, relatives who survived spread in all directions. Five of his kids are staying in Turkey and just by accident he met his 19 year old daughter who came with her husband in Moria. She is pregnant and will be a mother soon, so Roody is trying to find a better place and some supplies for her in the Camp.
“We´re in a bad situation and have to solve problems ourselves.”
Omar Al Mqdci (36)
Rakka, Syria
Dreaming of London, a new start and trying not to loose hope: Before Omar lost his 21 years old wife, his 8month old new born baby and his home in a bomb attack in October 2016, he worked as a Arabic teacher in Raqqa. After that he spend some time with freedom people in Aleppo and Idlib, tried his living in Istanbul and Izmir and came to Moria two years and six month ago. His Interview is scheduled in June 2021.
Muhannad AL Mandil (29)
Deir-ez-Zor, Syria
Passionate and sensitive: With his impressive pictures, Muhannad gives important insights about life in the camp. He came to Europe to finish his studies and live in a safe place. “Photography has always been my hobby”, he explains and now proudly tries to show the world more about the miserable life in Moria.
“PHOTOGRAPHY HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY Passion”
Barakisa Jarasamba (23)
Cote d´Ivoir
Barakisa belongs to the awareness-Team at the entrance of the Camp. She informs about hygienic aspects and carries some detergent with her. She left home because of her husband who beated and treated her badly. Because she fled she had to leave her 3month old baby at her sisters place and now is hoping that her interview next month will be successful. She´s staying in a tent and now is glad to join the MCAT what gives her a little bit security.
“Moria is no good place for women, especially when you are alone.”
Youbissi Tatiana Hermani (23)
Kamerun
Seven months took her journee to Europe, she crossed six countries and experienced violence to fulfil her dream of a better life. Since December Youbissi is living in a tent in Moria. Alone and waiting for her Asylum-Interview in 2021. With MCAT she feels in good company, a kind of safe harbour in a very stormy sea.
Zahar Sadiq (44)
Bagdad, Irak
Married in the age of 13 her husband took her kids (Nazar, 8, and Mohammad, 12) and left her alone. She´s willing to try to settle in Europe, get her kids back and live in peace. In Moria she´s staying in the Arabic community what gives her a bit of security.
Mohammed Abdalrahma (31)
Deir-ez-Zor, Syria
Mohammed is experienced in civil engineering and is now working for MCAT and another NGO. He left Syria in July, arrived in Moria on September 24. 2019 and hopes to get to his relatives in Netherlands soon.
Mashary (17)
Deir-ez-Zor, Syria
After he left Syria in 2015 Mashary worked in a Turkish factory to make a living for his mother and his sisters and brothers . In October 2019 the family arrived in Moria while his father is staying in the refugee camp in Karatepe.
Mohammed Al Hussein (33)
Deir-ez-Zor, Syria
Mohammed lived and worked as a mechanic and during the war first got imprisoned and tortured by Assad and after that by IS. He is afraid to be deported back and dreams of a life at a safe place.
Mohammed El Minfy (20)
Deir-ez-Zor/ Syria