The smallest clash quickly grows into a fight. Capacity and continuity of care are however far from what is necessary. An old Afghan man with his son are seen sitting against the wall of Moria Camp. My name is Yousif Al Shewaili, I’m 21 years old. There are too many young people in Moria whose dreams are lost while they are struggling to stay alive. They’ve gone from sleeping in a tent for shelter, to sleeping on the street; from a shower once a week or more, they’ve gone to not having any sanitation facilities; and from waiting a long time for legal papers or answers, to nothing, as the office has been burned. A big part of Moria was burned down on Tuesday September 8. LESBOS, Greece (AP) — Signaling a shift in policy, Greece’s government said Monday it would accelerate efforts to move thousands of refugees and migrants from Aegean Sea islands to the mainla… Built on the Greek island of Lesbos in 2015 for a maximum capacity of 3,100, Camp Moria is desperately overcrowded, with many NGOs believing the true figure to be well over what has been reported. All gone. Some of the refugees on Lesbos have been in Moria for years and have never had their asylum cases processed. Card games were particularly popular among the Afghan community, Photographer Vincent Haiges recalls the scene: “Walking through the remains of Europe’s biggest refugee camp, home for around 13.000 people in its last days, felt unreal. Photograph: Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters Last week, the government rushed in emergency aid in the form of containers – enough to … During the night of 8 September, the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos burst into flames. The blaze at Moria, on the Greek island of Lesbos, began at 2 a.m., Greek news agency ANA reported. I want to tell our stories to the world, to depict our suffering, without taking away from our dignity. image caption The Moria camp held thousands more people than its intended capacity Many local Greeks too want the migrants to leave the island. The September blaze that ravaged the Moria refugee camp in Greece left thousands of people homeless overnight. The chattering of voices, the clattering of dishes. Department of Natural Resources - Camping and lodging. I wanted, as an individual, to speak to the heads of this world. After the fire on Sept. 8, about 13,000 people — including those with confirmed cases of COVID-19 — are forced to live on a single street without any access to sanitary facilities or face masks. It seemed unthinkable, but life had just become even worse than in Moria. The Moria facility, which hosts some 13,000 people – more than four times its stated capacity – has been frequently criticised by aid groups for poor living conditions. It gives me hope for the future, to take as an example those people that I meet every day. About the fact that I didn’t have enough food, or money to buy food. The majority of people lost everything in the fire, and therefore need everything — clothes, blankets, medication. To show the difficulties of our lives and the challenges we are facing to survive, without taking away from our strength. It was located outside the village of Moria (Greek: Μόρια, Mória) near Mytilene on the island of Lesbos. The Moria refugee camp is the largest refugee camp in Greece located on the island of Lesbos. In order to create your account we need you to provide your email address. The fire, while tragic, initially stirred a wave of hope among those living in Moria that it might mean a chance for a better life outside of the camp, maybe on the mainland or in another country. Although its official capacity is 3,000, there are 12,500 refugees living in and around it. A French copy of the New Testament. That’s what I’m trying to do every day, showing the dreams, hopes, and dignity of the people in Moria. Nearly 11,000 people had to flee. Europe's largest migrant camp, Moria, ... more than six times its maximum capacity of 2,200 people. For many cooking was a way of keeping the memories of the place they left behind alive.”, Top row: a sim card and phone case. And he says that, currently, Zohra, who works for Doctors Without Borders, was deported to Afghanistan after being denied a visa to enter Greece through asylum papers, so that she is currently in a camp refugees in Bosnia to try to enter Europe through Croatia. Moria was home to an estimated 13,000 people -- more than six times its capacity. Reza. What Coronavirus Means for Europe’s Refugees and How You Can Help. Despite having a maximum capacity of 3,100, Moria was instead home to around 13,000 people, who had travelled to Europe with the hope of a better life for themselves and their loved ones. The deliberate overcrowding flies in the face of anti-COVID measures, but it also has a clear political message: asylum seekers’ lives are more dispensable than European citizens’. You can check out our Privacy Policy to see how we safeguard and use the information you provide us with. The only thing we all had in common was our journey on the sea and our memories of what we had left behind. Thanks for signing up as a global citizen. Here, 21-year-old photographer and refugee Yousif Al Shewaili, who has been living in Lesvos for the past three years, shares his story of life in the Moria camp — and what life is like now for the thousands of refugees on Lesvos following the fire. Moria, in a former military base, opened in 2015 as a center to register new arrivals but is now at four times its capacity and it has spilled over into a muddy, garbage-strewn olive grove. Bottom row: a French copy of the New Testament. The Greek prime minister announced a four-month state of emergency on the island. Make camping, lodging & shelter reservations. Welcome back! ... adjacent to the Moria camp. The camp was built in 2015 with a maximum capacity of 3,000 people, but as many as 20,000 called it home until Wednesday. Migrants take part in a rally near the town of Mytilene, Lesbos on … More than 7,000 people remain in the emergency site at Mavrovouni, established to accommodate those rendered homeless by the fire. They strongly oppose plans to rebuild a temporary camp. No answer came to me, just a ringing in my ears like I’d been punched. They’ve gone from having three opportunities a day to queue for food, to not receiving food for more than two days. With facilities meagre in and around the camp, children often lurk around with adults. Many left in panic, grabbing their children and leaving behind their few possessions. Mória Reception and Identification Centre (Greek: Κέντρο Υποδοχής και Ταυτοποίησης Μόριας), better known as Mória Refugee Camp, or just "Mória", was the largest refugee camp in Europe until it was burned down in September 2020. Diazepam and Ibuprofen, means to bear what is unbearable. When I arrived in Greece after my journey from Iraq, I arrived with many ambitions and dreams. Camp PROGRAMs maximum camp capacity is subject to the limitations of capacity determined by the Camp SITE. But not before fighting and fighting to try to make them happen there. Since the fire, large-scale transfers out of Lesbos to the mainland have helped reduce the number of people whose lives have been blighted. According to a Red Cross report the camp, the biggest of its kind in Europe, was at more than four times capacity. If seeking a change of capacity contact the lead camp consultant. Since that moment, a day hasn’t passed that I haven’t picked up my camera to report on life in the Moria camp, the biggest refugee camp in Europe. The people here are only talking about the current situation, only focusing on the “now”, what we hear from other people, the rumours spreading. MORIA, Greece -- Moria refugee camp was never far from crisis. Though this feeling of estrangement was not caused by the overwhelming presence of destruction but rather the absence of sound. Makeshift tents in the camp surrounding Moria detention center, April 6th 2020. The Moria camp, which hosts more than 12,000 people, was “probably totally destroyed”, a Greek migration official said. I didn’t have papers to work, to be able to leave the camp. A Fire Has Decimated Europe's Largest Refugee Camp. Sign in to start taking action. This article has been lightly edited for clarity and length. In the context of the 2015 migrant crisis, the Moria camp in Lesbos was built with an original capacity to shelter some 3,000 asylum seekers. "The overcrowding of the camp, the cold and the waiting doesn't help the situation and makes it harder on everyone," Abassi from MSF says. When it became a matter of saving my life, I left, carrying these hopes and dreams with me, hoping that becoming a refugee would not mean the end of them. Most asylum seekers were camping in “the jungle” olive groves on … Not much is coming out of there, since access for press is prohibited. The facility was placed under quarantine last week after authorities confirmed that an asylum seeker had tested positive for the coronavirus. Moria Refugee Camp If your Facebook account does not have an attached e-mail address, you'll need to add that before you can sign up. Related Stories For the refugees living in Moria camp, daily life has gotten worse since the fire. The official camp is an old military base with high walls and barbed wire surrounding it. The only thing on my mind when I arrived was that, now, I was safe and free. This is how I lived until I received a positive decision on my asylum application. Thankfully for me, a little bit of light comes back when I take pictures, when I am able to help others tell their stories. It was described by Human Rights Watch as an open air prison. Here's How You Can Help. Moria is the most populated refugee camp. During the night, the camp often turned into a place of violent confrontation. People slept on the pavement and used trees and foliage to erect makeshift shelters to protect themselves from the sun. Photos and videos posted to social media show the extent of the blaze, as well as the aftermath seen in the light of day. Nikos Xypolytas. Now, more than 12,000 people have been left without shelter, and without proper sanitation in the midst of a global pandemic. Day camp SITEs capacity is determined by the available approved outside space, inside space, and toilet facilities. With COVID-19, the situation now for the refugees on Lesvos is out of control. On 08 September, the Moria Reception and Identification Centre in Lesvos, Greece, was destroyed by fire. Please contact us at contact@globalcitizen.org if you would like to re-activate your account. Nearly 11,000 people had to flee. The Moria camp currently houses 19,000 people, almost seven times its capacity of 2,800 places. Charred soap. I started to take my pictures and videos of people living in Moria, to help them shout to the whole world. The refugee camp is home to an estimated 13,000 people, more than six times its maximum capacity of 2,200 people. Now I would be able to build a beautiful future for myself and I would be able to achieve my dreams. Robbery, the harassment of women, brawls or knife attacks were quite frequent. Valentine’s Day is a popular celebration in Afghanistan, “Between the rubbles we found different objects, still witnesses of a former life. March 25, 2020 Nearly 11,000 people had to flee. Yousif Al Shewaili.Image: Photo by Karol Kras; Courtesy of Yousif Al Shewaili. Initially built for 2,200 people, the camp has hosted almost ten times the amount of people it … There was just one thing going round and round in my head: how would I stay alive, feed myself, protect myself. Here's How You Can Help. Top row: cooking their own food was for many a way of preserving their cultural identity. The Moria camp on Lesbos. It felt as if those objects wanted to say: yes once there were people living here too. Even in the worst living conditions, people keep dreaming, people keep their faith, people keep being humans. Its population had been as high as 20,000 refugees, a number … Overcrowding is widespread on the Aegean islands and by the end of September about 21,400 people were crammed into spaces with an estimated combined capacity of 6,200. Migrants flee blazing camp on Greek island Sept. 9, 2020 01:12 Sign up. The containers which are used as housing have a maximum capacity of 3000 inhabitants but right now 8000 people have to share the space. The charred kitchen grater used for cooking. Basic services relied on the support of NGOs, whose role became controversial to the extent that some critics maintained their work enabled the continued existence of camps such as Moria, “This is why it is so important to keep the situation of the people seeking asylum alive, even though we only see the object they left behind.”. Many experienced mental health issues including self-harm and attempted suicide. This is not just a number — these are 13,000 silenced voices. On the last day of entry, 8 May 8, 2019, there were 4,752 people living in Moria, even though its capacity at the time was only 3,100. For the thousands of people living in Moria refugee camp, on the Greek island of Lesvos, life was already about a fight to survive — to find enough nutritious food, clean water, shelter, and safety. Eventually, a woman came from behind the fence and called my name. This work gives me hope. Then, on Sept. 8, a devastating fire swept through the camp, destroying the homes and possessions of … "We lack everything in Moria: food, showers, toilets… You have to line up for everything here, all the time." I will stay on the island of Lesvos until there is no inhumane refugee camp anymore. Those dreams were unattainable in my home country, and that is part of the reason I left. Photo by Océane Marache; Courtesy of Yousif Al Shewaili, Image: Photo by Karol Kras; Courtesy of Yousif Al Shewaili, What Coronavirus Means for Europe’s Refugees and How You Can Help. According to a Red Cross. For now, since the fire, NGOs are focusing on food and water as a main priority — but there is little medical aid currently reaching the area. At first, I sat by myself a lot, waiting, thinking, and trying to make peace with what I had survived and wondering if the dreams I had for myself would ever come true. Moria Camp’s section B has the capacity to accommodate 160 children, but the number of children there currently exceeds 520. Enclosed with barbed wire and a chain-link fence, the military camp served as a European Union “hotspot”. There were 12 different African Christian communities in Moria. Others are witnesses of resilience. I want to see them closing it, in front of me, and I will do everything I can to make that happen as soon as possible. She told me that I would be interviewed for asylum in a year and a half. This is the key. According to a Red Cross report the camp, the biggest of its kind in Europe, was at more than four times capacity. Photographers Vincent Haiges and Julian Busch picked through the wreckage. In our heads, there is just space for thinking about how we can get food or water, and when we finally lay down to rest, about our dreams — the dreams that pushed us to cross the Aegean Sea to reach Europe. There are about 13,000 humans now living in inhumane conditions. I will never forget the big tent they took us to first, the “Reception tent”, where I waited with so many people from different countries, nationalities, and speaking a multitude of languages. For many, however, using their phone was the main activity, either to keep in contact with friends and family back home or simply to kill time. Many settled on a one-and-a-half kilometre stretch of coastal road, close to Mytilene, the small capital of Lesbos. The Moria camp was four times over capacity with a population of 12,000 refugees, including 4,000 children. A lock used to protect someone’s home and family from mugging. Some were born in Moria and did not know life outside the camp. Authorities said they were investigating arson at the sprawling camp. I started photography when I was in Iraq and I started again here when I had work enough to buy myself a camera about a year ago. It was Moria camp. Related Stories They used to pray in the fields surrounding the camp, “The owners of those objects are now inside the new camp. The atmosphere is very tense, as no one has had proper rest for days, months, or even years. Greece has opened a 3,000-capacity tent camp for the migrants made homeless by the Moria fire — but amid unrest over conditions only a few hundred have entered so far. It is yet another attempt of the European Union to render the situation on the Aegean islands invisible.”, A food distribution card from the non-governmental organisation Refugee4Refugees. Maybe belonging to the Congolese community, who so vividly hold their services between the olive trees? Not politics, not money, but keeping humanity. The overcrowded, underequipped Camp Moria, had an official capacity for just 2,800. My sole focus was on finding solutions that would keep me alive — no more goals, no more dreams. Some objects are witnesses of violence. When I managed to set up an appointment with EASO [European Asylum Support Office], the asylum application office of the camp, I waited for hours before my name was called. According to the UNHCR UN high commissioner for refugees, there are approximately 121,100 asylum seekers and migrants in Greece, including 4,200 children who arrived unaccompanied, or were separated from their families on the way. Moria has the capacity to house some 3,000 people but was sheltering people more than four times its capacity in abysmal conditions, with many of them sleeping rough or in tents. Camping reservations can be booked up to six months in advance, and overnight lodging (cottages, safari-style tents, geodesic domes, cabins, yurts and lodges) and shelter reservations can be made up to a year in advance. Network quality in Moria was low and there was only one wifi spot, which was often overstrained. Showing that we are all humans. The Moria camp has capacity for 3,000 people, and in 2020 it numbered 25,000. Photo by Yousif Al Shewaili. It is estimated that about 40% of Moria’s 13,000 residents were children, with seven out of 10 under the age of 12. I went through all of that too, crossing the sea, living in the camp for over a year, and I, too, wanted to talk about everything I’d experienced. A new camp is being set up to accommodate those left homeless. Toys, clothes or dishes. I was one of the many who lost their psychological battle inside the camp, and there are thousands of others losing their own battles as we speak. A child’s shoe. Many are still living through it as I write this. Prevention, treatment and control of diseases. New fires broke out on Wednesday and Thursday. Then, on Sept. 8, a devastating fire swept through the camp, destroying the homes and possessions of those who lived there. Children in the camp were particularly vulnerable. A Fire Has Decimated Europe's Largest Refugee Camp. I’m from Iraq and have been living in Lesvos, in Greece, for three years now. The UNHCR has warned for some time of the urgent need to address the situation and conditions for asylum seekers on the Aegean islands, where many must cope with dire living conditions and are exposed to security risks including sexual and gender-based violence. These two Afghan girls currently reside there. I returned to my tent, and words wouldn’t come. I didn’t have drinking water, and was dependent on the distribution in the camp. Rather than thinking about goals and dreams, I instead had to think about my safety all day and all night. These are only small instances of the hell that I and thousands of others have lived through. The fire at Greece’s notorious Moria refugee camp left over 12,000 people without shelter, but the new camp built to replace it holds only 3,000. The Moria camp is a 10-minute drive from the port of Mitilini, the largest city on Lesbos. Now you could only hear the birds and the rustling of cats strolling through the remains of the camp.”, A Valentine’s Day mug. Not a Global Citizen yet? The next step for me, is to follow the same path as my first step. Conditions were already bad before the fire, the camp only had an official capacity of 2,800 people. But quickly, every thought of a life outside of the camp collapsed, when the Greek government announced that there was no chance of relocation out of the island — while a new camp is being built a few kilometres away from Moria. Despite having a maximum capacity of 3,100, Moria was instead home to around 13,000 people, who had travelled to Europe with the hope of a better life for themselves and their loved ones. One bathroom at the camp had to serve about 1,500 people a day, Aftermath of Moria refugee camp fire – photo essay, uring the night of 8 September, the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos burst into flames. By the beginning of November, about 2,800 people had left the island. Bottom right: a padlock used to secure homes against thieves. Moria has a capacity of 3,000, yet there are currently more than 9,600 people in the camp, who are struggling to cope with often inhumane conditions. Sept. 9, 2020 It’s easy for us to imagine how the virus would spread very quickly. Moria camp on Lesbos has been criticized many times, for instance, a year ago when MSF psychiatrist Alessandro Barberio sent an open letter in 2018 alarming the emergency situation of the camp. When I landed in Greece, I was taken from the beach where I arrived to a strange place, more like a prison or worse.
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