SITUATION UPDATE: Moria and Vial Camps

One of our missions here at Europe Must Act is to bring people together in peace and solidarity around one single, shameful issue. Our campaigning so far shows us that thousands of people from all over Europe want positive and humane policy change // look here 🌍: https://bit.ly/3etqWDG

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We take very seriously our duty to provide a platform where those voices from the communities in camps, and the humanitarians providing relief, can be projected. We want to raise the voices of people directly affected by this Aegean nightmare.

Please take a moment to take in the latest information from Moria and Vial Camps. Our Moria (Lesvos) update is narrated by a humanitarian worker for Médecins Sans Frontières Greece (MSF)| Γιατροί Χωρίς Σύνορα (ΓΧΣ), whilst our Vial update is written by an individual living in Vial Camp. We are privileged to share these voices with you:

GENERAL:

For now, it's quiet, the people are anxious and angry.

Last week, it was hard, many things happened.

-Small fights between the Police and some refugees happened because (as the stories say), one of the police beat a woman for unclear reasons.

LOCK-DOWN:

Until now, we can't understand the rules. There is a checkpoint on the way if you want to leave Vial, you have to pass by it. With Permit paper and the SMS you can pass.

3 days ago, only in the morning around 8:00am, most of the people went to Chios by legal way, unfortunately, the police in Chios impose a fine 150€ on them. If you're living in Vial and the police catches you out, with permission or without, you'll have a fine.

// *𝘌𝘔𝘈 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘝𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘱, 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯* //

FINANCIAL:

UNHCR said: the money from the Cash Card will be late for this month, till we bring ATM to Vial.

After 1 week we have the money but no ATM in Vial and we can't use any ATM at all. We can only use it in the Market,

this money lasts for 30 days only.

There is a Greek man with a vehicle like a small market in Vial, his prices are very expensive. Double for everything. it's not enough for him. He steals money from the Cards, for example, if you bought with 5€ he will take 8€ and give you a fake bill. One resident took the bill and went to UNHCR service for a complaint. They have proven that the man steals money and said to the guy you have to tell the police for official complaints but not here in the police station in Chios.

Anyway, if we go to Chios we will have a fine if we decide not to buy from the man in Vial. At the end of the month, we will lose the money. We have no choice.

ASYLUM SERVICE:

The info point started to work again to have Food Card and an appointment with Doctor or UNHCR. There is a small team from UNHCR working. They still do the medical examination. EASO not here for interviews. There were two transfer trips.

FOOD AND WATER:

Nothing changed with the food situation. The drinking water is not enough.

In the main camp, there are 4 sections. For now one of those have water, the people who live in the jungle started digging wells with hands and simple tools to have some water.

MEDICAL:

Worse than before!

Everyday people are waiting to get into the clinic. We can say it's impossible if you're not dying.

HYGIENE:

The situation is very bad, the summer is coming. Snakes and Scorpions are starting to appear and other things will with this big rubbish pile, especially in the jungle.

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For an update on the Moria camp, watch the following video by AJ+:

Thanks to our contributors for sharing their stories 🙏

Thanks to you for taking the time to watch, listen to and read these realities in Europe 🙏

With:

1 toilet for 72 people (Moria)

1 shower for 84 people (Moria)

1 toilet for 182 people (Vial)

1 shower for 182 people (Vial)

We MUST keep pushing for the decongestion of the islands.

Why?

Because #EuropeMustAct

United we stand, together we succeed.