The refugee crisis that we are witnessing today has effected me deeply. The images of suffering and terror - particularly in little children so similar to my own - and stories of injustice fill me with such sadness and a need to DO something to help. Earlier this year I did some volunteering in Thessaloniki supporting mothers and infants. The people I met and the stories they shared have inspired me to do as much as I can to help. So, in October I am going to Athens to do similar work.

The project I will be volunteering for is called Amurtel. They have set up an all female centre in the middle of Athens where refugee mothers and their children can go for support through pregnancy and in caring for their infants. Mother-baby areas provide safety, reassurance and resources for mothers to feel supported and access information, particularly in relation to infant feeding.

Of the thousands arriving on Greek shores daily, statistics tell us that 20% of the women among them of childbearing age are pregnant or have small babies. Pregnant women and newborns are disproportionately harmed by disasters, with more miscarriages, premature births, low birth weight infants, undesired pregnancies and birth complications than an average population. The lack of adequately nutritious food, a scarcity of drinking water, fragmented or no health care, unfamiliar surroundings, and the often unending psychological stress put pregnant women and infants at great risk.

Formula feeding is often widespread in these communities due to the indiscriminate distribution of breastmilk substitutes, misconceptions about breastmilk and the effects of trauma effecting the milk let down lead to women believe they are either unable to breastfeed or that formula is better for their child. When families have no guarantee of being able to get/afford formula and often have no means of sterilising bottles or boiling water, the infants don't always get what they need and malnourishment is a problem.

Amurtel offers midwifery and postpartum care, supplemental food and water during pregnancy and lactation, infant feeding assessments for mothers with children under 2 years of age, information on the importance and efficacy of breastfeeding in disaster situations, help for mothers to increase their milk supply and relactate if possible, advice and support for those who need to give breastmilk substitutes, complementary food for pregnant women and lactating mothers and limited distribution of non-food items, e.g. nappies, infant clothing, baby carriers, and underwear for women.

Please, if you can, give a donation here. I will take whatever I have raised directly out to these families who, as I saw from the families we helped last time, receive whatever we can give with such humility and gratitude. Additionally if those of you who are local have any baby clothes (unmarked and good quality) or maternity underwear I will take a bag out with me. There is a need for older babies clothes - up to the age of 1.

Thank you so much.