Check out our monthly project update for June 2024 at Paréa Lesvos.
The word paréa in Greek means “company, circle of friends”: everyone is welcome in Paréa!
Located within walking distance from the CCAC (Closed and Controlled Access Camp) on Lesvos, our community center Paréa Lesvos offers a safe space where people on the move, locals and internationals can meet and spend time in a peaceful and welcoming environment.
Paréa is run by Europe Cares responsible for the safety, major facility costs, maintenance and development of the center. It is also a home to another 10 civil society organizations: Artists Giving Back, Boat Refugee Foundation, Circus Lesvos, Leave No One Behind, Makerspace Lesvos, ReFocus Media Lab, Refugee Assistance Doro Blancke, Sporos Regeneration Institute, Terra Psy and Yoga and Sport with Refugees. In a time of high political uncertainty and constant withdrawal of support and international attention from Lesvos, our network of partner organizations joined forces to offer people on the move a wide range of services including food and NFI distributions, legal and psychosocial support, education and social care activities. But first and foremost, we offer a sense of community and belonging.
We are one community in solidarity. Will you join us?
View of Mavrovouni Camp from Paréa Lesvos
LESVOS UPDATES
In June, 410 people arrived on Lesvos, bringing the camp population to 1,282 people. 37 cases of pushbacks were recorded in the Aegean sea in the last month, involving 957 children, women and men trying to reach safety in Europe. While Greek authorities continue to deny any involvement with such grave violations of human rights including the international right to asylum, these cases have been widely documented, including in a recent investigation released by the BBC which clearly shows that the Hellenic Coast Guard abducts and abandons people on the move at sea. The growing need for safe passage becomes even clearer given the report by the Turkish Coast Guard according to which, in the first half of 2024 only, 32 people died or were found dead in Turkish waters. In all of 2023, it was 12.
For those who arrive on the island, the living conditions are dire. As the heatwave hits Greece with temperatures reaching 40° C, hundreds of people living in the Lesvos CCAC are cut off from all state assistance, including food, water, cash assistance and medical care due to their legal status. Among them, more than 300 people are currently excluded. Moreover, WASH actors raise concerns about the constant increase of dysentery cases among the camp population due to contaminated water. In fact, while many cannot access the official water distribution, there are no proper facilities for water provision and collection. Water is collected from the taps of the common bathrooms used by hundreds of people, collected in unclean plastic containers and stored in scorching housing units, leading to growing infections. Morever, despite months of complaints, many units in the washing facilities are still severely damaged. Thus, although the housing capacity of the camp accounts for over 6,000 people, the hygiene facilities cannot accommodate the needs of more than 2,000 people.
Meanwhile, discontinued access to medical services creates a huge emotional toll on camp residents. In fact, on Friday 14th June, about 400 employees of EODY, the National Public Health Organization, were informed that the program providing medical care in the refugee camps across Greece would be withdrawn in 2 weeks‘ time, a month earlier than expected. The provision of medical services in the camp will be contracted to IOM through the new Hippocrates programme. However, the latter is expected to start in September, creating a 2-month gap and growing worries for the refugee community all over Greece and all the actors standing in solidarity with them.
JUNE IN NUMBERS
Highlight of the month
In Paréa we celebrated the World Refugee Week with diverse activities including face painting, arts and crafts, music and dancing, along with a delicious lunch. In addition, we organised a cooking workshop in our Women’s space. Our female visitors prepared an exceptional Afghani dish, creating a wonderful opportunity to cook, relax, and share a meal together.
The World Refugee Week was established to bring attention to the situation of people on the move. More than 200 visitors attended the activities in Paréa on this day, enjoying the positive vibe and creating joyful moments.
Faces of Paréa
I mostly come here on Wednesdays and Fridays because there are German classes. I love to learn it. Sometimes my friends join. In the camp, we don’t have fans or cold water, so we come to Paréa because here we are safe from the heat. We enjoy the free drinks and do some sports. Youssef — Syria, 23 years old
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Meet our partner: SPOROS REGENERATION INSTITUTE
Our partner organization Sporos Regeneration Institute is a local NGO dedicated to regenerating the natural environment. In Paréa, Sporos runs the EcoHub, which consists of a garden and a greenhouse. The EcoHub serves as a place to teach visitors about permaculture, provide nutritious food, medicinal herbs, and indirect psychosocial support to our visitors, as well as find beauty amidst the chaos and heal trauma with nature.
The garden is highly appreciated by our visitors. Especially in summer, the olive trees offer much-needed shade during the hot temperatures.
Welcome to our space: MAIN HALL
The Main Hall is the heart of our community center and hosts a variety of organisations and services. A gaming zone, a library, a hygiene shop and a clothes distribution area are located in the Main Hall. Displayed information about current activities and services keeps visitors well-informed and enables them to participate in the various projects offered by different organisations on the island.
Apart from the offered activities, the Main Hall provides protection from the harsh weather conditions throughout the year. Overall, it serves as a vital hub for our community, fostering a welcoming and engaging environment for everyone.
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