Holistic Support for Refugees Arriving in Greece

IsraAID Greece is currently operating in two locations - 1) The Island of Lesbos, 2) Northern Greece. 

February 17th 4:30AM - Lesbos, IsraAID's medical staff got a phone call - "A boat is coming!" - a boat was approaching the south shore of the island. IsraAID's team of one doctor and a nurse were called to the shore, where 40 individuals were safely brought to land. The medical team started examining arrivals one by one - providing psychological first aid and support in Arabic. Receiving support in Arabic had a huge impact on the Arabic speaking individuals as they were arriving on a rubber boat to a foreign land in the middle of the night. IsraAID's Arabic speaking staff accompanied them on the bus to the camp and explained the procedures and what to expect next. Two children received additional help and comfort as they showed clear signs of fear and anxiety. 

Since February, 2017 IsraAID is a part of a medical clinic in Kara Tepe, a refugee camp which serves as a home to 1100 Arabic speaking refugees. IsraAID’s medical staff is working closely with the camp management, the local hospital, and partner organizations to support the needs of the population, with the unique capacity of service provision in the refugees’ mother tongue. In addition, the team promotes public health in the camp through tailored made programs based on public health trends and needs in the camp.

IsraAID’s staff are addressing the many patients with chronic conditions who arrived to Lesbos after a long period without treatment or access to medical care. Most beneficiaries are suffering from acute problems, (e.g. Asthma and COPD exacerbation, diabetes, etc.) aggravated by the instability and stress caused by the lack of routine and the severe conditions of the journey.

Northern Greece 

IsraAID began it operation in Northern Greece in December 2015 and continues to adapt programs and services according to the changing needs of the situation. IsraAID is currently operating in three refugee camps and shelters hosting the most vulnerable, identified and selected by UNHCR. The organization’s work focuses on providing psychosocial support for refugees, offering community based activities and one on one sessions to a varied population, while adapting every intervention to the unique setting and needs of the community.

Over the coming year IsraAID plan to expand the scope of its work in the camps, as well as establishing service provision of psychosocial support via a community center in the city of Thessaloniki. The center will be operating with a holistic approach, offering community based psychosocial mechanisms, community empowerment sessions, group counseling, case management and individual sessions as needed. The community center will offer services in an urban setting to benefit refugees living in camps and urban areas, and the Greek host community.

IsraAID's current activities in the refugee camps in Greece leverage on the organization’s experience working in humanitarian contexts, empowering communities in transition towards self-reliance, preparation for their unknown future and increase independency. IsraAID is working through a community building approach, promotion of resilience and informal education activities, creating a sense of purpose. In addition, IsraAID is providing the most vulnerable with direct psycho-social care in the refugee's mother tongue. The professionalized care enables beneficiaries to overcome what could potentially develop into chronically mental health conditions in an environment of ongoing stress.

We thank our many donors to IsraAID Greece - our programs would not be possible without your support! The asylum seeker in Greece needs our help more than ever, as the cold winter months have made the situation more desperate and the needs even larger. Thank you for your continued contributions!