Who we were before the night shift in Moria Camp
Even though our project’s main focus is on the environmental aspect of the island, it was a truly eye-opening and an important experience for us as a team but also as individuals to work on the night shift in the only registration site on the island called the Moria Camp.
A formal military base, Moria Camp is receiving up to 2000 refugees in a day, all just aiming to register as fast as possible and continue their journeys. They cannot all fit in tents so a large amount of people sleep outside. The camp looks frightening and unwelcoming on the outside with the barb wires around the facades of the camp but what it has inside is what counts; all the lives, stories and hope for better days. Volunteers and NGOs do their best in improving the conditions and making the registration process faster, but there is still a lot to do in improving the facilities. Lighthouse Relief which we were volunteering for, works with bus receptions at the gate of the camp welcoming people, putting on wristbands and giving basic information. The NGO has also a family compound where it provides safety and protection for up to 250 people. Even though the camp was sleeping when we arrived there, you could see how many people were inside from the drying shirts, pants and shoes hanging on the fences. The efforts of Lighthouse to make the facilities more humane is impressive with hanging lights, drawings from children and picnic tables.
Our shift was from 1AM to 9AM. At the gate of the camp we met with Steve from Lighthouse Relief who showed us around the camp and explained our tasks. The amount of information and responsibility came a bit as a shock at first but Steve was certain that we would manage, and so we did. Our group was split into two since there was two main areas of responsibility; one group at the gates and one at the compound. I started my shift at the compound with Kristjana, Faisal and a sweet Romanian girl called Monika. Since the nighttime is quiet in the camp, besides some milk heating and guiding to toilets, we had interesting conversations on the situation of the refugee crisis, humanitarian work and life in general.
The walls of the compound was full of drawings from children. They were very moving; you could see pittoresque houses somewhere far from the camp, boats packed with happy people and of course the usual princess drawings. It was fascinating to look at the drawing and realizing that all children are the same all over the world. They have similar dreams, but some are just luckier I guess.
We switched shifts with Melanie and Eve, who were assisting the arriving buses at the gates, around 6AM. Our task was then to welcome the soaking wet people that had just landed on the shores of Lesvos and driven to the camp to get registered. While smiling and welcoming people, I realized how powerful a friendly smile can be. The people of concern looked relieved and happy to feel welcome and safe after the traumatic sea crossing, some were showing it by kissing my hands, hugging, crying and just genuinely saying thank you for helping and staying up so late. Meanwhile in the compound, Melanie, Eve and Faisal were playing with the enthusiastic kids already ready for a new day. They gave out the toys we had collected in Finland to the children that were more than excited to get their own puppy or bear to play with. Eve even had a small english lesson with the kids and was amazed of how fast they learned at 6 in the morning. We have a lot to learn from the smaller ones.
As the sun came up, the whole camp started to wake up. “Kalimeras” and smiles were exchanged with sleepy men and women having their morning walk and volunteers about to start their morning shifts.
-Oona