We live in a swing boat. High peaks and deep valleys.
In the previous blog I described our first day after the fire. That was two weeks ago. The last few days, which felt like months were intense. All the volunteers young and old from different organizations have been fully committed together. No one has ever complained. All with just one goal, to give people back a bit of humanity.
We started at 3 or 5 a.m. with a distribution of baby stuff (diapers, milk, clothes) and food for pregnant women or we did a distribution of sleeping bags and blankets. We distributed from the vans to the people who had to live on the streets for days. In the afternoon we packaged food and water to provide all 13000 people with water and food. We repeated this for a few days. How many exactly? What I said, I lost my sense of time.
What followed was a new camp and a day off. The swing boat started to swing. Days off are nice, because you can relax, but a day off is also a start of realization. The realization that there is a very bad 'movie' going on here, of which your curiosity for next scenes decreases every day.
Who came up with the idea that it is a good idea to accommodate people who have done everything possible to escape the war in their own country on a shooting range of the Greek army? What can we say about the metal detectors the military started to use when we had been 'housing' people for days, because they were still looking for some land mines and other explosive stuff? What can I say about the lies that were spread with a letter a few days ago. I quote 'you will be totally safe. Accommodation, alimentation, water, electricity and items of personal hygiene are provided', will I have overlooked all the facilities? The handful of filthy dixies that are placed in each area and can be smelled from meters away, do they make a difference? Does 'totally safe' mean the meter-long fence and barbed wire that is now being built completely around and inside the camp? What are we going to do when all the tents break down due to the wind and water (camp is surrounded by the ocean)? And the piles of earth that are supposed to protect the terrain that has the shape of a bathtub will no longer be there? The list can be longer. Frustrations make you tired.
Fortunately, the swing boat is always in motion. A chat from person to person, a smile. This makes the difference. The woman who comes to me completely upset, but who leaves with a big smile because of my failing French. The man that I meet at his new tent and happily shows me the picture of both of us during the food distribution. The moment of recognition. The gratitude of the people, if only for our presence. The hospitality, the tea-drinking at a tent with a family that has lost everything, but where everyone will always be welcome. The Greek magician who makes as many children as possible laugh with this tricks. The resilience and determination of the Afghan English teacher who continues his school in his tent and the tent of his neighbors in order to keep as many children as possible in education. Kids being kids, when you play soccer with them or when they try to teach me Farsi (with emphasis on trying 😉).
I am here for these people. POCs are not a burden, but an example.
A short note. Next week is supposed to be my sixth and last week here. However, I have the strong feeling that I need to stay longer. I really can't leave the people here yet. I have saved money for 6 weeks and they have been financed, but for the 7 weeks that I would like to stay longer (and that start on October 5) I can use a little extra help financially. The costs are 250 euros per week to pay for my stay, food and transport.
I don't like (asking) this at all, but if you would like to help me for any reason (because you support our work or if you prefer that I don't come back to the Netherlands yet 😊) then a donation is appreciated. Info below. Thank you very much.
Gift Moria
L.R. Zijlstra
NL69 INGB 0000 5549 76
Venmo
@Ruth-Zijlstra
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