Support for refugees on Lesbos

Geographically located at the edge of Europe and bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Greece is receiving a larger share of asylum seekers and migrants. At the end of 2022, the UN refugee organisation registered 147,000 refugees and 22,000 asylum seekers. Making their way to Lesbos by land and sea, they have largely come from Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia.

Greece is housing these refugees in camps, where they are living in very precarious conditions. In 2020, a devastating fire at the Moria refugee camp drew international attention to the dire situation for refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos. Improvements have been made since the catastrophe, however not to the supply situation or living conditions which are still considered inhumane. Private aid organisations such as Caritas Hellas are providing social services and psychological support to those living in the refugee camps on Lesbos and at the social centre in Mytilene. In addition to the distribution of aid, such as household supplies, the local Caritas also provides psychosocial support and cultural offerings for children and young people.
The Redel Foundation is supporting these measures with €40,000.

Impressions