Holistic Support for Refugees Arriving in Greece

Northern Greece

IsraAID's team in Greece is working in the Caritas community center, which serves the refugee community now living in the urban city center (and not camps). See picture below for one of the first sessions IsraAID held with yoga for women, run in Farsi. In another group session for women, our team ran an exercise about self-care. Using different relaxation techniques, the mental health professionals emphasized the importance of looking after yourself - body and mind. The women discussed how to use some of these techniques to better manage the daily challenges they face.

During last week's art therapy session in the community center, while their just-made jewelry pieces were drying, the women refugees learned important words in English - words that represent their past, current and future journeys, such as: joy, safe, community, dance, hope.

Early Childhood Development - The women trained in IsraAID’s Early Childhood Development program rotate daily, putting their skills into practice. The children hugely benefit from finally having an educational, safe framework in the camp.

With more and more refugees arriving to Greece the homeless population is growing rapidly. IsraAID partner with an organization who gives medical support though a mobile clinic. IsraAID is working with them a few times a week to give psychological support for the homeless refugees as well as to help them better communicate with the doctors in Arabic and Farsi.

Lesbos

Two weeks ago, IsraAID's mobile medical team on Lesbos were called to Tsonia Beach, Lesbos, where 40 refugees and migrants had just arrived by boat. Most were from West Africa. They were wet and exhausted, but relieved to be safe. IsraAID's team, together with local partners, is waiting to provide warm blankets, medical assistance, and to take the refugees from their rubber dinghy to a refugee camp.
Many refugees who come by boat, including children and the elderly, arrive freezing and shivering. They have been thoroughly soaked in cold sea water on the way from Turkey to Lesbos. The crossing from Turkey to Greece, on inflatable, over-crowded boats, remains one of the most treacherous parts of the journey for refugees coming from Middle East countries such as Syria or Afghanistan. IsraAID's mobile medical team is the only unit operating on the North shores of Lesbos island. Our volunteer doctors and nurses provide emergency medical care to new arrivals, following their incredibly arduous journeys.

"When I was part of IsraAID's team in Greece, we heard many personal accounts of refugees who had been on the most traumatic journeys, lost everything, and who needed the most basic items, like shelter and food.

While a lot of organizations are giving practical, physical assistance, the IsraAID team also tries to address the emotional wounds. The mental health specialists accompany people in overcoming these traumatic events, share coping mechanisms and strengthen their resilience.

I was amazed to see the strength of these communities, and was inspired and humbled to meet people with such strength of character and resolve." IsraAID mental health specialist.

Give your donation to IsraAID this Giving Tuesday – our teams in Greece need your help to continue their work, especially now that the winter is on our door step and the situation will become even more desperate. Thank you!