Doctors launch drive to evacuate Greek refugee camp

ATHENS

Over 5,000 doctors from all over Europe have come together to support the initiative #SOSMoria to evacuate and bring to safety thousands of migrants trapped at the overcrowded Moria camp amid the crisis of the coronavirus pandemic.

Moria camp on Lesvos Island has been repeatedly criticized by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for inhumane living conditions.

“As doctors in Europe, we call on the leaders of our governments and of the European Union to bring refugees to safety immediately,” the initiative stated.

The idea for the initiative came from Dutch doctor Steven Van Der Fieffer and Sane van der Koi who had offered their services in the Moria Camp.

Van der Pfeifer warned that thousands of people will die if the detention center is not evacuated.

While doctors warn people to keep distance from each other in order to prevent the spread of the virus, for the migrants and refugees of the camp this is something impossible.

More than 20,000 are living in the camp at the moment which was designated to accommodate 3,000.

Doctors warn that this is an “ideal breeding ground for the spread of the virus".

Most are living cramped together with limited access to fresh water and any access to clean water and without any hygiene.

Doctors stated that Europe should not look away from this situation in order to avoid its escalation from a medical disaster not only for the refugees but as well as for the Greek people and for Europe as a whole.

Meanwhile, German activists have worked together in order to collect funds that would help the airlifting of refugees and migrants from the Greek islands to Berlin.