A NEW BEGINNING
A new year has begun. It is a pity that a truly clean slate does not exist in the real world. That we take what worried us 2024 with us into the new year. How nice it would be to be able to start a completely new book. In the United States, Donald Trump took office as president last Monday. He immediately showed his decisiveness and his muscles by signing dozens of executive orders. In all sorts of areas, humanity and justice are being flouted and the rule of law is being undermined. When it comes to migration, asylum and the rights of people on the move, far-reaching measures are taken. In violation of international law, Trump is cancelling asylum applications, announcing large-scale deportation of migrants, and completing the border wall between Mexico and the US. The US is also stepping down from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and pausing foreign development aid. This shift in power will have huge consequences for millions of people. There are hopeful developments, too. Cautiously hopeful, because everyone realises how fragile it is, and how long the road ahead is. Since the ceasefire agreement took effect, the first Israeli hostages have been released, and thousands of people in Gaza are gearing up to return home. At least, back to the location that was once home, because after 15 months of war, few houses remain standing. Attacks on aid workers have stopped and the border is open for relief supplies - far from adequate to meet the needs, but it is a start. A hopeful start.
Navigating
In Greece, too, we are navigating between hope and the inevitable confrontation with systems that are difficult to change. The number of people staying in Mavrovouni refugee camp has been stable for some time, between 3,500 and 3,800. With the full occupation of the camp and the limited healthcare provided from the Greek government, this means that we still see 60-80 patients daily in our clinic. To get an idea of what things are like at the clinic, read the report written by Sanne Heusden of Hospitainer Foundation about the visit she and her chairman made to our programme at the end of November. We could not have put it more beautifully and aptly ourselves.
Children’s emergency
Among the patients are an increasing number of children. In the past year, an unprecedented number of children, including a growing number of unaccompanied children, without their parents or other adult caretakers, arrived in Greece. Together with other aid organisations, we raised our concerns about the safety and health of these children. Those who cannot find a place in special shelters are forced to stay in special ‘zones’ within the refugee camps. These zones should provide protection, but there is a severe lack of capacity, and a growing number of incidents of violence against and abuse of children. We gathered information and case studies illustrating the gap in supervision, protection and access to healthcare for unaccompanied children on Lesvos, so that the responsible authorities take the measures that are so desperately needed. Our own Dutch embassy, which also supports the shelter for unaccompanied children outside the camp on Lesvos, is an ally in this.
Chios
Not only the camp on Lesvos is full, the same goes for the camps on the other islands. Refugee camp Vial on Chios has been full for months. We are eager to start providing medical care there too; the camp management is ready to welcome us. The waiting is for green light from the Greek ministry. As soon as that arrives, we will start setting up the programme. We will start with a pilot period of three months, during which we will further explore how to best meet the demand for care on site and adjust our provision of care where necessary. During the same period, we will also make every effort to raise the necessary funds to finance this new operation.
A new beginning, new hope. This is much needed. A whole new book may not be possible, but a new chapter is. We will continue to tell the stories of people staying on Lesvos and will add the stories of people on the move on Chios. Stories of and encounters with the people we meet while providing healthcare. Patients and colleagues, and at the same time mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, friends and loved ones, all with their own stories. Stories that need to be heard.
In 2025, too, we cannot do it alone. Your support remains essential. Because only together we can make a difference.
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