Floods Daniel and Elias
On September 5, 2023, the greater Magnisia region of Greece was severely impacted by Storm “Daniel,” causing widespread devastation in Volos and Pelion. The intense storm brought heavy rainfall that overwhelmed rivers, leading to severe flooding. Bridges, roads, and key infrastructure were destroyed, while vast areas of Volos were submerged.
SN was in touch with local authorities, civil protection units, and trusted residents of Volos to develop a plan to support those affected. A team departed on September 7th and established an outpost in the Nea Ionia neighborhood, equipped with an electrical generator, charging stations, free 5G Wi-Fi, and basic first aid services. The team quickly expanded their operations, coordinating with municipal civil protection units to deliver aid and food to residents trapped in their homes. By early afternoon, alarming reports came from the Karditsa area, indicating that major dams had broken, and massive floods had trapped many residents in the region.
A two-person scouting team set out to Palama, where residents were reportedly trapped. Upon arrival, it became clear the team needed to relocate from Volos to Karditsa, where the situation was critical, and SN set up a base in Larisa. The team was strengthened with additional staff, delivering donations from Desmos and assisting locals, the Army, the fire brigade, and volunteers. A collaboration with MSF Greece helped deliver bedding to the municipality. When another storm hit Volos on September 26th, SN was redeployed to assist with cleanup until October 1st.
Wildfires Rodopi
On August 20th, wildfires erupted around Alexandroupolis, burning for several days. SolidarityNow quickly mobilized and, in coordination with local authorities, deployed to deliver hygiene products, cleaning, and medical supplies to aid emergency services. The team later moved to Rodopi, where fires threatened small villages, providing support to emergency responders. They delivered a pallet of water bottles to a junction near the fire front and set up a temporary base offering Wi-Fi and first aid. The team returned to Thessaloniki on August 24th.
Wildfires Rhodes
On July 25th, 2023, wildfires struck the island of Rhodes, endangering thousands of residents and visitors, and destroying an abundance of pristine forests and homes. Although SolidarityNow did not deploy a team to Rhodes, on the 27th SN gathered and sent a number of donations of medical supplies to the Rhodes hospital to support victims of the wildfires.