Unfortunately the only NGO providing medicines and medical assistance to our lovely 470 residents has recently pulled out of the camp. Although the municipality has provided another local group, which comprises of just one midwife and one paediatrician, we currently have no general doctor or ANY medical supplies in camp. The local group states that their funding has run out and cannot provide the basic medicines needed, such as paracetamol, antibiotics and saline solutions, until further notice. As the majority of our camp residents have little to no money to purchase their own medicines, we are asking you to help us supply emergency medical assistance until we receive more support from the municipality.

Over half of the camp population is made up of children: some who have made the journey from Iraq to Greene completely alone. We have many people with health conditions, including severe trauma, several pregnant women and currently 65 unregistered people with absolutely no cash.

I have been volunteering with Lifting Hands International at Serres Refugee Camp as an English Teacher for around four months in total now. We work in a field next to camp, and since we are denied access to the camp by the local authorities, we work extremely hard to create a community space of safety and learning in our make shift tents and grassy areas: this is a very special place to be a part of! Each day, volunteers cycle to the field and the Yezidi community make their way from their white containers, restricted behind bars, to our open field to learn languages, do yoga and fitness, play the piano and guitar, be kids and explore and use their imagination in our kids' space and play on our bumpy volleyball court. I teach English to teens, men and women, but each day for me is different in some way: whether it's going to the local park early morning to fill up buckets with fresh water for the day (we do not have a running water supply) or going to our warehouse to sort through hundreds of donations ready for clothing distribution, I am never short of something to do! Our women's space provides me with a calming spot to get away from the Greek heat when needed and I love being able to watch the women carry out their traditional knitting as well as taking a well deserved break from life (usually in the form of home made face masks, massages given by volunteers or nail painting- something they rarely get to do outside of our space). Each day they come to the field with smiles on their faces and a real appreciation for what we offer. Without LHI and its volunteers there would be none of this support or respite for our residents.

We have a long list of medical supplies and medicine we URGENTLY need to purchase. Please donate whatever you can now and contact me if you would like to see this list (it's too big to fit on here!!)

If you would like more information about LIH and Camp Serres, including volunteering opportunities, please feel free to get in touch with me :) Thanks for reading and rojeta hosh!! (that's have a good day in Kurmanji, the language spoken by our Yezidi community).

Rosie x