I'm raising £15000 to help Fr John Luke support the Syrian refugees on the island of Rhodes who are now homeless since the destruction of the refugee camp
Organised by Theresa Lunniss
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Update from Fr Luke this week
'These poor refugees arrived yesterday morning from Syria via Turkey in a rubber dinghy. They came straight to the church as they had been at the police station and they told them they would have to wait in the street until there were two hundred and they would ship them altogether to the refugee camps on the islands of Kos and Leros. I called the Coast guards and said the children could not sleep in the street, so they collected them and have put them in a hotel for the time being. Meanwhile we fed them and gave them water. I am always surprised at the resilience of the children. After having given them some food and chocolates their smiles and good humour was restored despite the frightening voyage over the Aegean sea. God help them. I hope that the franciscan hospitality will smooth is some part this journey in their little lives.'
I am continuing to raise money for Fr John Luke, who is leading the work on the Islands of Rhodes and Kos to support young children and their families who fled, by boat, to escape the crisis in Syria and more recently, the wider Middle East.
Fr John Luke, was formerly, Steven and he and I trained, as nurses, together at The London Hospital - Steven, Fr John Luke is now the Vicar General on Rhodes.
This last year the situation has got worse for the refugees. They were living in a temporary camp, supported by charity. Without warning, one morning, the police and bulldozers arrived and the refugees we removed to Athens. They were forced to leave behind their few belongings and children's toys. After 'processing' they were dumped onto the streets, with no support. Many have found their way back to Fr John Luke and he has, with your support, been able to find temporary accomodation for them, provide them with a weekly food parcel and pays prescription and medical fees for many of the refugees who have long-term conditions, ailments and the day to day needs of the children and their mothers.
With your help Fr John Luke can continue supporting these fragile families, to rebuild their lives.
As always, thank you for helping me to support my nursing colleague in his tireless work with the refugee families on the Island of Rhodes.
