I'm off to volunteer, in September 2018, as a doctor with the inspirational Medical Volunteers International (previously DocMobile) - a German nonprofit organisation that provides humanitarian medical aid to refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos, a hotspot at the centre of the Mediterranean refugee crisis. I will be working in a clinic delivering primary healthcare for acute and chronic illnesses to those in the refugee camps near the capital Mytilene. 

Whilst the arrival of refugees by boat has decreased slightly of late (though still continues), the Mediterranean remains the world's deadliest border, with a report by the IOM finding that at least 33,761 fleeing migrants have died at sea here between 2000 and 2017.

You may have heard in recent news that, whilst search and rescue remains an important (and highly political) topic, humanitarian efforts are shifting towards the dire situation in the refugee camps in Lesbos and the other Aegean islands. After the EU-Turkey deal, refugees are stuck in the camps, unable to move on but unable to return. This is a problem because the largest camp on Lesbos, Moria Camp, was built for around 2000 people but its population is now approaching 8000! This means there's 1 toilet for about 70 people, people can't wash, there is not enough shelter, food or water for people, and violence and aggression is escalating. Mental health too is drastically deteriorating, with reports of children as young as 10 trying to commit suicide. The situation is so bad that some NGOs have left. MSF left in protest but has since returned as the situation is so dreadful - Lesbos medical coordinator Lucas Fontana has described it as the worst place he has seen in his life as a humanitarian aid worker (28 Aug 2018 ).

The issues that have driven migrants to risk their lives at sea have already taken a great toll on their health, then add the perilous traumatic journey, and then the unique strains of overcrowded refugee camp life and this becomes a group with exceptional healthcare needs. I've felt immense guilt at standing by when I could at least try to be of some help to those struggling at the edge of my home, Europe. Especially now there is not enough medical care. So now I'm going to try! 🤞🏽

I’m going entirely as a volunteer so will be self-funding the travel, accommodation (a volunteers' house from which rent goes back to refugee charities), personal insurance , medical indemnity, and living costs etc as well as hoping to contribute towards medical supplies and running costs of the charity. So, any donations towards the cause would be GREATLY appreciated!

Love, Tom xx