Athens, 7^th March 2016

26*  national and international organizations from Greece, FYRoM, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia, working along the Western Balkan migration route, we condemn the European governments that violate national, European and international Law by closing the doors to people who need international protection.

In the past couple of months more than 108,000 people reached Europe through Greece. They are willing to put their lives in danger by making a very dangerous trip because they leave wars behind. Neither the bad weather, nor the European governments’ policies do they stop them from trying to save their lives. At the same time, these policies are pushing Europe towards a dangerous and condemnable trajectory that violates international and European Conventions on the protection of refugees and human rights in general.

We worry about a series of restrictive policies that affect the security, well being and rights of refugees and migrants in Europe. The discrimination against the Afghans in the border between Greece and FYRoM is unacceptable. The decision of the police authorities of the Republics of Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and the FYRoM to let through their borders only people who can prove their nationality amount to arbitrary and illegal restrictions on a person’s right to seek international protection. The daily restrictions in the number of people who are admitted in a country are according to the European Commission clearly incompatible with the Geneva Convention on Refugees. We are concerned these policies may lead to increasing cases of “pushbacks” or collective expulsions in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

These decisions have only served to further exacerbate the level of human suffering. Men, women and children are trapped on the borders in inhumane conditions, since thousands of people are forced to sleep outside in dropping temperatures. They also force them in the arms of the traffickers and push them to find new and dangerous routes so that they continue their journey. The refugees become vulnerable since their money is running out, while unaccompanied children are easy prey to criminal networks, taking them further out of reach of humanitarian actors who can offer them support and protection. The use of violence in the borders, the “pushbacks, and the returns and deportations from one country to the other are putting the safety of refugees in danger.

These practices in Balkan countries are nothing more than a natural continuation of policies adopted by neighbours further up the route, who built fences, imposed caps in the number of asylum requests to be accepted daily, decided to confiscate cash from arriving refugees and restrict the rights of families to be reunified. Europe is on an extremely dangerous trajectory.

We invite Europe to respect its own Conventions, human rights and finally the right of every person to international protection. Everyone has the right to apply for asylum, their application to be examined individually, and in case of rejection, the returns process must still be respectful of their basic human rights. We call, finally, all European governments to accept a substantial number of refugees in their countries and take all necessary measures so that there is an end in the wars that have caused this crisis.

*The NGOs that are signing the joint statement are (in alphabetical order):
ActionAid Hellas, Albanian Helsinki Committee, Belgrade Center for Human Rights, Civic Initiatives Belgrade, Civil Rights Program Kosovo, Doctors of the World Greece, European Council on Refugees and Exiles, Humanitarni centar za integraciju i toleranciju (HCIT), Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, Građanske inicijative – Civic Initiative, Greek Council for Refugees, Greek Forum of Refugees, Grupa 484, Hrvatski pravni centar, International Rescue Committee, Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, Macedonian Young Lawyers Association, Norwegian Refugee Council, Open Gate – La Strada, Oxfam, Practical Policy Centre Serbia, Praksis, Praxis Serbia, Save the Children, Solidarity Now, VluchtelingenWerk Nederland.

SAVE THE DATE! We invite you to the launch of the innovative online platform “SUPPORT4ALL” by Σύλλογος Ασθενών Ήπατος Ελλάδος “Προμηθέας” -HLPA “Prometheus” with the support of SolidarityNow, on February 19, 2016, at 16:00, at the Athens Solidarity Center.
For more information about the platform and the event, see here.
We hope to see you all there!

Evaluation Report and Assessment Results

In the context of strengthening bilateral relations between Greece and Norway, SolidarityNow, in cooperation with its partners and with NGOs from Norway, carried out – in the summer of 2015 – an assessment in order to record and assess the situation and needs, as they have arisen with the explosion of mixed migration/refugee flows on the Greek islands and specifically in Rhodes, Tilos, Kos, Samos and Lesvos.
The results of this assessment were presented by the team of SolidarityNow along with its partners, four Greek and two Norwegian non-governmental organizations: Norwegian Refugee Council, Norwegian People’s Aid, ARSIS, PRAKSIS, Network for Children’s Rights and Association “Together for Children”, at the Athens Solidarity Center.
Through mapping, establishing contacts with local and competent bodies but also through the development of concrete policy proposals, the Evaluation Report could be a useful tool for the Greek state and other international organizations and contribute to the development of future policies to combat the refugee crisis.
The results of the Evaluation report of the exploratory mission were presented by Ljubisha Vrencev, Project Manager, Elli Xenou, Head of Programs of SolidarityNow and Iorgos Karagiannis, Coordinator of the field team of the assessment.
Moreover, during the event the documentary “Refugee Highway” by Chronis Pechlivanidis that reflects the humanitarian crisis on the Greek islands, was viewed.
HE Ambassador Mr. Jørn Gjelstad, Embassy of Norway to Greece, Ms. Polyxeni Anastasiou – Commercial Officer at the Embassy of Norway, Mr. Frode Mortensen, Senior Officer-Justice and Home Affairs, EFTA and Mr. Stelios Zavvos, Chairman of SolidarityNow, honored the event with their presence.

* The Evaluation Report and the documentary “Refugee Highway” were financed exclusively by the EEA Grants and the Norwegian Embassy in Greece.

See the detailed Evaluation Report on the Greek islands, here.

30,255 beneficiaries and 70,800 provided services

Athens, January 14, 2016
On Thursday, January 14th, the organizations ARSIS, PRAKSIS, NETWORK FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS, ASSOCIATION TOGETHER FOR CHILDREN, the ASYLUM SERVICE and SolidarityNow, held a joint Press Conference to mark the one year of operation of the Athens Solidarity Center. During the one year of operation of the Athens Solidarity Center -from December 2014 until December 2015- the total number of beneficiaries rose to 30,255 while the number of services provided, reached 70,800.

Iorgos Karagiannnis as the Coordinator of the Athens Solidarity Center of SolidarityNow, noted that: “After one year of operation, the Solidarity Center demonstrates that wherever efforts of civil society are combined with those of the municipality and public services, the result is noticeable and advantageous both for those in need of services and for those that work together to offer them.”

The Coordinator of the Legal Aid Office of ARSIS, Evangelia Kontodima, stressed the importance of “providing free legal counseling and legal representation to vulnerable social groups, especially those to whom the impact of the crisis is not visible immediately, such as women who suffer violence or children.” She did not fail to mention the increased number of arrivals of beneficiaries of the Service and made particular reference to advocacy – claim direct and efficient access to justice, and to networking with other agencies and organizations with a common purpose and action.

Dina Vardaramatou as the Coordinator of the NGO Praksis, referred to the two main pillars with which the organization is engaged in cooperation with the foresaid bodies. The program MEDICAL SERVICES EXTENDED constitutes an extension of medical services provided in the PRAKSIS Polyclinic of Athens, while the program EMPLOYABILITY CENTER, offers free support services to the unemployed during their job search, in Greek, English and French. Also, she did not fail to make a numerical report, while completing the speech, presenting quantitative data on how much the beneficiaries have been served during the operation of the center.
The coordinator of the Office of Special Procedures at the Regional Asylum Office in Attica, Katerina Prentza, noted that ” in the asylum process it is very important both for the Office and for asylum seekers and particularly for the vulnerable, that they can rely on immediate response of entities under one roof at the Solidarity Center, to provide vital humanitarian, medical, psychiatric and legal aid.”
Additionally, Angeliki Sandilou, the Coordinator of the Child Center, NETWORK FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS, commented that the “Child Center” operates based on its rules and the application of the “International Convention on Children’s Rights” and has set forth a basic daily schedule for individual and participative activities, with pedagogical, entertainment and cultural content. Focusing, the program adapts flexibly to new needs, as those arise, and focuses on children and their families and respect for diversity. The presence of the teacher, social worker and psychologist and the assistance of volunteers and friends of the “Network” (pediatrician, teachers, gynecologists, and others) also offer the possibility of enlarging the basic daily support through Greek language courses, information sessions, food distributions, as well as other actions.
Finally, the Coordinator of programs from the “Together for Children”, Konstantinos Tagkoulis made ​​reference to both programs being hosted since January 2015 in the Athens Solidarity Center, the Counseling Line ” 115 25 ” and the ” Counseling Center “, which cumulatively within a year served more than 9,000 beneficiaries.The Counseling Line “11525” and “Counseling center” of the Association “Together for Children”, offer through qualified staff free services for any issue that concerns parents and children in order to raise awareness, and give guidance and psycho-emotional support to each family. Also, as part of his presentation, and in addition to quantitative and qualitative data, he referred to joint actions, of information, humanitarian and entertainment content, that were developed with co-located entities, thereby confirming the value of coexistence of separate voluntary organizations in the same space.

PRAKSIS
The main goal of PRAKSIS is the design, implementation and delivery of developmental, humanitarian and medical programs. Based on the two Polyclinics in Athens and Thessaloniki, the Reception Day Centers for the Homeless (Athens, Piraeus and Thessaloniki), the Reception Center for Unaccompanied Minors in Patras, the Centers for Unaccompanied Minors STEGI PLUS (+), PRAKSIS operates in Greece, mainly in Attica, Central Macedonia, the Aegean islands (e.g. Lesvos, Samos, Kos, Chios, Leros etc.), on the northern border of the country, as well as in the region of Patras, by offering for 18 years direct and free medical care, psychological and legal support to the local homeless, poor, uninsured, newly arrived asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants, repatriated, unaccompanied minors, street children, ex-prisoners and to other socially and economically excluded groups.
It also provides free testing for HIV and Hepatitis B,C, through Mobile Units for Examination and Information;  additionally, it operates a Help Line 800 11 11 600 (toll free from a landline) 210 82 50 600 (free of charge from mobile) that provides information about sexually transmitted diseases, Hepatitis B, C and HIV.
www.praksis.gr | email: info@praksis.gr

ARSIS – Association for the Social Support of Youth
ARSIS is a non-governmental organization specialized in the social support of young people and vulnerable groups and the defense of human rights. The main axis of ARSIS’s actions is support, reintegration, education, securing housing and employment, protection of rights, citizens’ awareness and fostering volunteering and solidarity. It is active against discrimination, poverty and marginalization. Founded in 1992, ARSIS operates centers in Athens, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis, Volos and Kozani.
www.arsis.gr | email:arsisathina.legalaid@gmail.com

NETWORK FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
The Network for Children’s Rights is a non-governmental organization established in 2004 with primary aim the sensitization and active intervention to the problems regarding Children’s Rights. It has undertaken actions and initiatives for the implementation of the UN International Convention on the Rights of the Child in our country, as well as for the respect of diversity and discriminations. Its members are teachers, parents, academics, writers, artists and children, who act voluntarily in and out of the school community, they undertake research, campaigns and programs.
www.ddp.org.gr | email:diktio1@gmail.com

ASSOCIATION “Together for Children”
The Association “Together for Children” is comprised of 10 charitable organizations that have as a common denominator the child and the modern family, and operates in Greece since 1996. The nationwide Line “11525” and the “Counselling Center” of the Association “Together for Children” are hosted from January 2015 at the Athens Solidarity Center, offering through qualified staff free services for any issue that concerns parents, children and adolescents raising awareness and offering guidance and psycho – emotional support to each family.
www.mazigiatopaidi.gr | email: info@mazigiatopaidi.gr, 11525@mazigiatopaidi.gr

NATIONAL ASYLUM SERVICE
The National’s Asylum Service mandate is according to the law the implementation of the national legislation on the provision of political asylum and other forms of international protection to foreigners who have fled their country due to justified fear of persecution on the basis of race, religion, national origin, political opinion or membership in a particular social group, and who are unable or unwilling to return home. As required by law, the Service receives, examines and decides on the basis of the national legislation and the international obligations of the country, for asylum applications filed in Greece. The Solidarity Center serves vulnerable people, so as to enable the direct provision of medical, psychosocial and legal services of the organizations hosted in the Center, when necessary.
www.asylo.gov.gr/en/ | email: press.asylo@asylo.gov.gr

SOLIDARITYNOW
SolidarityNow is a network of people and organizations founded in 2013 in Greece with the initiative of the Open Society Foundations (OSF) mainly aiming at providing assistance and support to those affected by the current crisis. The program “Solidarity Centers” has been running since January 2014 and is based on the idea of ​​an open space, a core that enhances the participation of different groups of civil society in order to cover the lack of access of the city’s most vulnerable populations to integrated services.
www.solidaritynow.org | email: contact@solidaritynow.org

For the presentations (available only in Greek):

PRAKSIS, ARSIS – Association for the Social Support of Youth , ΥΠΗΡΕΣΙΑ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ/ΠΕΡΙΦΕΡΕΙΑΚΟ ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ ΑΤΤΙΚΗΣ, ΔΙΚΤΥΟ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΔΙΚΑΙΩΜΑΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΙΔΙΟΥ​, ΕΝΩΣΗ ΜΑΖΙ ΓΙΑ ΤΟ ΠΑΙΔΙ, αλληλεγγύη-SolidarityNow

One year of co-action at the Athens Solidarity Center

Multiple benefits and results

On Thursday, January 14, 2016, the organizations ARSIS, PRAKSIS, NETWORK FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS, ASSOCIATION TOGETHER FOR CHILDREN, THE ASYLUM SERVICE and, SolidarityNow invite you to a joint Press Conference to mark the first anniversary of the Athens Solidarity Center.

After the co- operation of 1 year, all the implementing partners under the auspices of SolidarityNow exhibit their work, the results of their actions and the multiple benefits of offering free services to the beneficiaries, operating in a common structure.

Services offered at the Athens Solidarity Center include:

• Legal Assistance from ARSIS
• Medical Services from PRAKSIS
• Employability Services from PRAKSIS
• Day Care Center for Children from NETWORK FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
• Advisory Services from ASSOCIATION TOGETHER FOR CHILDREN
• Examination of asylum applications by the ASYLUM SERVICE

SolidarityNow coordinates and communicates the activities of the Centre as a whole.

The services provided by the Solidarity Center are free and addressed to all: adults and children who are faced with poverty and social exclusion, with housing and insurance problems, migrants and asylum seekers/refugees, and to any family wishing to obtain specialized counselling services. The Solidarity Center implements an “open door” policy and is accessible to everyone regardless of nationality, religion, ethnic origin and social status.

The Press Conference will be held at 12:00 at the Athens Solidarity Center (Domokou 2 & Philadelphias | across the Larissa Station, 1st floor).

PRAKSIS
The main goal of PRAKSIS is the design, implementation and delivery of developmental, humanitarian and medical programs. Based on the two Polyclinics in Athens and Thessaloniki, the Reception Day Centers for the Homeless (Athens, Piraeus and Thessaloniki), the Reception Center for Unaccompanied Minors in Patras, the Centers for Unaccompanied Minors STEGI PLUS (+), PRAKSIS operates in Greece, mainly in Attica, Central Macedonia, the Aegean islands (e.g. Lesvos, Samos, Kos, Chios, Leros etc.), on the northern border of the country, as well as in the region of Patras, by offering for 18 years direct and free medical care, psychological and legal support to the local homeless, poor, uninsured, newly arrived asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants, repatriated, unaccompanied minors, street children, ex-prisoners and to other socially and economically excluded groups.
It also provides free testing for HIV and Hepatitis B,C, through Mobile Units for Examination and Information;  additionally, it operates a Help Line 800 11 11 600 (toll free from a landline) 210 82 50 600 (free of charge from mobile) that provides information about sexually transmitted diseases, Hepatitis B, C and HIV.
www.praksis.gr | email: info@praksis.gr

ARSIS – Association for the Social Support of Youth
ARSIS is a non-governmental organization specialized in the social support of young people and vulnerable groups and the defense of human rights. The main axis of ARSIS’s actions is support, reintegration, education, securing housing and employment, protection of rights, citizens’ awareness and fostering volunteering and solidarity. It is active against discrimination, poverty and marginalization. Founded in 1992, ARSIS operates centers in Athens, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis, Volos and Kozani.
www.arsis.gr | email:arsisathina.legalaid@gmail.com

NETWORK FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
The Network for Children’s Rights is a non-governmental organization established in 2004 with primary aim the sensitization and active intervention to the problems regarding Children’s Rights. It has undertaken actions and initiatives for the implementation of the UN International Convention on the Rights of the Child in our country, as well as for the respect of diversity and discriminations. Its members are teachers, parents, academics, writers, artists and children, who act voluntarily in and out of the school community, they undertake research, campaigns and programs.
www.ddp.org.gr | email:diktio1@gmail.com

ASSOCIATION “Together for Children”
The Association “Together for Children” is comprised of 10 charitable organizations that have as a common denominator the child and the modern family, and operates in Greece since 1996. The nationwide Line “11525” and the “Counselling Center” of the Association “Together for Children” are hosted from January 2015 at the Athens Solidarity Center, offering through qualified staff free services for any issue that concerns parents, children and adolescents raising awareness and offering guidance and psycho – emotional support to each family.
www.mazigiatopaidi.gr | email: info@mazigiatopaidi.gr, 11525@mazigiatopaidi.gr

NATIONAL ASYLUM SERVICE
The National’s Asylum Service mandate is according to the law the implementation of the national legislation on the provision of political asylum and other forms of international protection to foreigners who have fled their country due to justified fear of persecution on the basis of race, religion, national origin, political opinion or membership in a particular social group, and who are unable or unwilling to return home. As required by law, the Service receives, examines and decides on the basis of the national legislation and the international obligations of the country, for asylum applications filed in Greece. The Solidarity Center serves vulnerable people, so as to enable the direct provision of medical, psychosocial and legal services of the organizations hosted in the Center, when necessary.
www.asylo.gov.gr/en/ | email: press.asylo@asylo.gov.gr

SOLIDARITYNOW
SolidarityNow is a network of people and organizations founded in 2013 in Greece with the initiative of the Open Society Foundations (OSF) mainly aiming at providing assistance and support to those affected by the current crisis. The program “Solidarity Centers” has been running since January 2014 and is based on the idea of ​​an open space, a core that enhances the participation of different groups of civil society in order to cover the lack of access of the city’s most vulnerable populations to integrated services.
www.solidaritynow.org | email: contact@solidaritynow.org

The Athens Solidarity Center operates with the financial support of Open Society Foundations, the EEA Norway Grants and the Norwegian Embassy in Greece, in collaboration with the Municipality of Athens and fund operator, PWC Cyprus and First Elements Euroconsultants Ltd. The 2009-2014 Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA, EEA Grants), which is the main donor of the Athens Solidarity Center, constitutes the financial  contribution of the three donor countries Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, for the reduction of the financial and social disparities between EEA regions and the strengthening of bilateral relations with the beneficiary countries. In particular, the EEA grants period 2009-2014, contribute with financial aid totaling 993 million euros to support 86 projects in 16 European countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain.

The amount that has been committed for Greece amounts to 63.4 mil. euros and the priority areas selected are: Protection and Management of the Environment, Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Civil Society, Human and Social Development and the Academic Research.

For more information

PRAKSIS: Chryoula Patsou , Press Officer, presspraksis@gmail.com / 2105205200, 6947719678

ARSIS: Evangelia Kontodima, arsisathina.legalaid@gmail.com / 2108257661

ASYLUM SERVICE/ REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE ATTICA ASYLUM SERVICE: Katerina Prentza, e.prentza@asylo.gov.gr / 210 6988690

NETWORK FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS: Angeliki Sandilou, diktio4@gmail.com / 2108257667

ASSOCIATION TOGETHER FOR CHILDREN: Evina Sotiropoulou, Head of Press Office & Digital Media, socialmedia@mazigiatopaidi.gr / 210 74 82 690

SolidarityNow: Sophia Ioannou, Director of Communications & Fundraising, sophia@solidaritynow.org / 2106772500, 6937251997

——————————————————————————————————————————————
SolidarityNow is a network of people and organizations established in Greece in 2013 through the initiative of the Open Society Foundations. They work together to help those affected by the crisis the most. SolidarityNow supports groups and organizations of civil society that are active in Greece with programs and operates two Solidarity Centers in Athens (supported by the EEA Grants) and Thessaloniki, at which vulnerable groups of the population can receive free medical, legal and other services.
SolidarityNow operates by supporting synergies between civil society and governmental entities. Since the beginning of 2015, it has allocated the amount of ten (10) million euros to projects related to migration and the refugee crisis in Greece.

SolidarityNow Board of Directors:
Stelios Zavvos – President, Christos Rozakis, Nikos Alivizatos, Efthimios Vidalis, Aristos Doxiadis, Jenny Cavounidis, Antigone Lyberaki, Panos Marinopoulos, Manos Matsaganis, Calypso Nomikou, Anna Triandafyllidou

For information and interviews:
Sophia Ioannou, Head of Communications & Fundraising / tel. 210 677 2550, 6937 251997 | sophia@solidaritynow.org

We wish to share with you some good news: #SolidarityNow was awarded for its contribution with the Solidarity Centers!

Yesterday, in the Auditorium of the Acropolis Museum, and within the frame of #BravoSustainabilityAwards, we won one of three distinctions in the category «Bravo Society» for the program Solidarity Centers.

On behalf of our entire Team, the award was received by the Managing Director of #SolidarityNow, Epaminondas Farmakis given by the President of Bodossaki Foundation, Mr. D. Vlastos.

For us it is a price that comes to reward publicly an innovative program in which all believed when it started in 2014. And certainly, it is a push to achieve even more in the future!

There is no point on simply saying “do not let the terrorists get in.” When you turn your back on every refugee, because he/she could be a terrorist, you turn your back on almost 20 million people. And when you turn your back on 20 million people, then we will all face a global crisis”.

These are words of a volunteer who offers her services on the island of Lesvos. Since last January, more than 428,000 refugees have arrived on the island, seeking safety and an opportunity to live another life. The total number of refugees having arrived in Greece exceeds 730,000.

For Europe, the refugee crisis is gradually becoming an existential one. The dilemma is huge: if Europe leaves its external borders open, the Schengen Agreement will collapse and so will the fundamental principle of the EU, that of free movement of people. But if it closes its outer gates, this will destabilize countries such as Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, which, until now, have welcomed millions of refugees. Besides, the financial support of Turkey and other countries to keep refugees in their territories – as decided at the recent summit of EU leaders – apart from being costly, is not a viable solution.
Until the conflicts raging in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere are not resolved, Europe will be destabilizing, while at same time a million more people will be driven to despair and more fanatical positions. In any case, no wall around Europe is sturdy enough to prevent the influx of aspiring terrorists.

In Greece, the challenge of managing the refugee flow is huge. The greatest danger, however, that Europe is currently facing is the possibility of exiting the Schengen Agreement and other European countries closing their borders, one after another. If this happens, we will be forced, alone and isolated, to accommodate dozens if not hundreds of thousands of refugees indefinitely.
Unfortunately, the European plan to relocate 160,000 asylum seekers from Greece and Italy to other EU countries has not yet been implemented, and thus pressure on neighboring countries remains high. In Greece, the only official “hot spot” where refugees can be identified, registered, and take the necessary document to continue their journey, operates in Lesvos.
In Greece, only 1% of refugees arriving apply for asylum: since last January, the total number has not exceeded 9,000, and the authorities do not create any incentive for them: no accommodation, no food, no education and no employment opportunities.
It would be devastating to lose more valuable time and not directly promote the following three priorities: (a) set up and operate the “hot spots” – registration centers, (b) enhance the initial reception infrastructure and (c) develop long-term accommodation and integration facilities for some of the refugees.

According to the 17-point plan agreed by the EU leaders on October 25th, Greece must step up its efforts and respond quickly to the increased needs for the reception of refugees. This is where the contribution of civil society and organizations is much needed. For example, “SolidarityNow”, which, with the support of Open Society Foundations and the Norwegian government (EEA) and the valuable cooperation of humanitarian organizations such as Doctors without Borders, the International Rescue Committee and others, including local authorities, has developed significant actions for the assistance and immediate relief of refugees.
___________________
Mr. Alivizatos, Ms. Lyberaki, Mr. Rozakis and Ms. Triantafyllidou, are members of the Board of Directors of “SolidarityNow”.

by Elli Xenou, Director of Programs, SolidarityNow
(article published in Huffington Post, Greece, 3.12.2015)

Border of Greece – FYROM, Idomeni. Old images come to my mind, trucks with medical supplies crossing the border, army, police and NGOs: the scene of another, previous crisis, the war in Kosovo and former Yugoslavia…
I recover the image from an inner need of mine to place my thoughts in order, to add a historical aspect to the crisis, when I hear and see images again of the area this past summer.

I am able recall the scene when it is replaced by a new one: thousands of people, children, women and chaos, shoving and violence, injuries, people screaming and crying when FYROM temporarily closed the exit towards Europe, at the beginning of this summer. This exit is still in the making, though, for millions of Arabs, Asians and Africans. This is the phenomenon that UNHCR calls “the big march” – that is, a great flow of populations escaping from a hectic, unsafe, and in fact absurd world, hearing towards the civilized and rational West.

I find it unnecessary to comment on whether or not the West actually lives up to the aforementioned positive characterizations. There have been many words, articles and analyses written about the West and its inferiority, anyway. But on top of that, comments are excessive since we can only be judged based on the results of our actions.

A temporary camp was created in the summer in Idomeni, through the contribution of the state, UNHCR, local bodies, and NGOs. This transit camp has allowed a smooth and dignified passage of thousands of people to FYROM and other host countries. An undeniable “success story” to address the humanitarian crisis faced by Greece and FYROM: a small triumph of a cross-border cooperation under emergency conditions and good organization in terms of volunteers, NGOs and international organizations cooperating in the field. All this has helped hinder the creation of bottlenecks and has facilitated both states in their work by providing basic support and services to the “people on the move”.

Being vulnerable to external factors over time and international politics, this organized approach to combat the humanitarian crisis – that is, the system which has worked so far in Idomeni -as many similar ones in other international crises- has been proven too weak to cope with increased flows, increased length of stay – meaning increased and more complex needs, confined populations and everything else that will be brought upon by closing the borders – especially if this becomes permanent with the raising of a new fence – and the advent of winter.

New tensions were created in Idomeni, in November 2015. While FYROM allows the passage of Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans, it closes the door on other nationalities trying to pass through, and go to Central Europe. The situation remains unsettled and the future looks uncertain.

Did this historical perspective of the crisis help me eventually make a conclusion?
The fact that the causes of crises are always complex and that the power players always prove to be below par, is rather obvious.
However, there is something that is not as obvious as it should be. And this is, -if not the humanitarian ideal- the humanitarian obligation, at least. It is the duty of all those involved to facilitate and ensure access to basic goods and services, under safe and decent living, food and health conditions, to all and to the Third Country Nationals (TCNs) that are located at or pass by Idomeni, on their way to other destinations. This should be an obvious basis for communication and a practical axis for direct intervention and action for all those involved in handling the crisis.

At the same time, there are other human and legal rights that TCN possess, according not only to international humanitarian law, but also refugee and immigration law: the status of international humanitarian protection, the right to seek asylum, the right to temporary residence etc. Here things get more complicated. International practices differ and the broader geopolitical developments constitute key factors in crisis management, such as the one we are now facing, which transcend the narrow range of humanism and ultimately evolve into international, political and social crises.
The humanitarian tradition of crisis management does not have much to offer on this second level. But it has much to require from the first.

As the temperature drops in Idomeni and hypothermia cases rise, dilapidated buildings of the nearby railway station remain closed. Before we think or work out complex solutions that require multilevel consensus, why can’t we agree on what is obvious – that is, agree to open these buildings and used them as temporary shelters for people arriving in Idomeni?
SolidarityNow has already asked the state and local authorities to allocate these buildings and has ensured its commitment to take care of their renovation and operation.

Let’s finally agree on what is obvious. Idomeni, Lesvos, Leros, the Dodecanese and the map only expands… There are no holistic solutions for these people, and this is not a failure of ours only as a country, but as Europe, as the Western World, as the one expected to ensure a better tomorrow. Let’s, at least, follow the example set by the residents of the areas who welcomed these people: let’s protect them by providing them with the basics. Let’s not be tragically below par.

Photo-journey of “SolidarityNow” for the refugee crisis, through social media
Athens, December 3rd 2015.

Starting today and for the next two months, “SolidarityNow” -in collaboration with the internationally-renowned photographer George Moutafis-, brings people and their personal stories to the forefront, amidst the refugee crisis. This photographic journey is titled “Listen to My Story” and focuses on the invisible protagonists of the unprecedented, for Europe, refugee / immigration phenomenon. And introduces us to 32 people, recording their 32 unique stories.

We listen to stories of people who are refugees, who are volunteers, who are active citizens, people who are stand beside thousands of desperate people who arrive in Greece, in solidarity. These people are our own everyday “heroes”. They are people who hope, who dare to dream when war sweeps everything around them, who find the courage to reclaim their lives, who generously lend a hand of help, who know how to share a plate of food with a smile, who give meaning and substance to the word solidarity .
“In this period of turmoil -with more than 720,000 refugees having arrived in Greece from the beginning of the year until today – and when Europe’s policies are weak and phobic, and actually very distant from the vision of a Europe with open borders, free movement and social inclusion, we wanted to focus on the faces – actors of this ongoing crisis, the true protagonists. They speak their own truth about what is happening», notes Sophia Ioannou, Head of Communication and Fundraising at “SolidarityNow”. She continues: “With strong images – portraits, we let people who are at the heart of the events -whether they are refugees, citizens exhibiting solidarity, or volunteers and municipal workers- submit us their own story. Our aim is to raise awareness, discourage complacency, and push for immediate solutions.”

“Listen to My Story” is introduced today to the general public through www.solidaritynow.org and our social media (Fb: SolidarityNow, Twitter: @Solidarity_Now).

Through the lens of George Moutafis, we will be traveling to Lesvos, Chios, Kos, Leros, Samos, Tilos and from there to Idomeni, and back again to Athens. We will travel where #SolidarityNow supports important organizations so that together we can provide shelter, food, warm clothes, clean drinking water, medical care and support to people arriving after a perilous sea journey while seeking safety and claiming their right to live.

#ListentoMyStory

Because these people have something important to tell us. Let’s listen to them!