The video says: "Al salaam alajkum. Today is 23.03.2020, this is the situation of refugees at the border crossing, Pazarkule. The conditions are very difficult. There will be more rain throughout the next four days and mud is already everywhere and all the people are dirty. Well, this is the situation of people in the camp. Hopefully the UN and other NGOs will get involved. Hopefully God will make it easier/bearable for people. This is for today's date. See the situation of all the people here."
According to someone from the Turkish Red Crescent, there should be around 5000-6000 people, based on the numbers of the food distribution packages. But we know that there are many people who have not received any food, so the actual numbers are likely to be much higher.
Today our team in Edirne met a couple of young men with broken legs and arms, injuries they suffered at the hands of Greek military before being illegally pushed back to Turkey. The European politicians to whom we send emails to reply only with empty phrases suggesting how their "solidarity" with Greece helps with effective protection of the border, and how the money they spend on Frontex has a positive influence on the maintenance of legal standards. I would like to ask them: legal standards involving breaking bones of people in need of protection and help? Like illegally pushing them back? Like refusing basic human rights, such as the right to claim asylum? Shame on you, Europe.
Last night in Istanbul, a little girl with high fever was taken to the hospital by one of our local volunteers - but was denied treatment as she is no longer in possession of her papers, after Greek soldiers took everything from her and her family. She is now back at the bus station where they are staying, with no prospective further action.
Yesterday only a couple of new people arrived in Istanbul. A young Syrian man called us in the middle of the night crying, as he did not know where to go on this cold and rainy night. He is now stayinh with the others in a room our local partners from the Common Sense Initiative organized at the bus station, from which we provide enough food and clothes for everyone. Some of the vendors around the station are incredibly generous and give out free soup or sandwiches to the people living there. Locals from Istanbul donate clothes.
We bought a football for the children, as they are only staying inside the room, as the bus station is one of the most dangerous places in Istanbul, the meeting point for drug dealers and criminals, with dirt surrounding the area. The bus station is not really a place for a family to live in - and yet our room has become their only source of refuge and a little safe space of hope in the midst of surrounding darkness.
The video says: "Al salaam alajkum. Today is 23.03.2020, this is the situation of refugees at the border crossing, Pazarkule. The conditions are very difficult. There will be more rain throughout the next four days and mud is already everywhere and all the people are dirty. Well, this is the situation of people in the camp. Hopefully the UN and other NGOs will get involved. Hopefully God will make it easier/bearable for people. This is for today's date. See the situation of all the people here."
According to someone from the Turkish Red Crescent, there should be around 5000-6000 people, based on the numbers of the food distribution packages. But we know that there are many people who have not received any food, so the actual numbers are likely to be much higher.
Today our team in Edirne met a couple of young men with broken legs and arms, injuries they suffered at the hands of Greek military before being illegally pushed back to Turkey. The European politicians to whom we send emails to reply only with empty phrases suggesting how their "solidarity" with Greece helps with effective protection of the border, and how the money they spend on Frontex has a positive influence on the maintenance of legal standards. I would like to ask them: legal standards involving breaking bones of people in need of protection and help? Like illegally pushing them back? Like refusing basic human rights, such as the right to claim asylum? Shame on you, Europe.
Last night in Istanbul, a little girl with high fever was taken to the hospital by one of our local volunteers - but was denied treatment as she is no longer in possession of her papers, after Greek soldiers took everything from her and her family. She is now back at the bus station where they are staying, with no prospective further action.
Yesterday only a couple of new people arrived in Istanbul. A young Syrian man called us in the middle of the night crying, as he did not know where to go on this cold and rainy night. He is now stayinh with the others in a room our local partners from the Common Sense Initiative organized at the bus station, from which we provide enough food and clothes for everyone. Some of the vendors around the station are incredibly generous and give out free soup or sandwiches to the people living there. Locals from Istanbul donate clothes.
We bought a football for the children, as they are only staying inside the room, as the bus station is one of the most dangerous places in Istanbul, the meeting point for drug dealers and criminals, with dirt surrounding the area. The bus station is not really a place for a family to live in - and yet our room has become their only source of refuge and a little safe space of hope in the midst of surrounding darkness.
