Papa Stratis the solidarity priest of Lesvos died yeasterday . He had
put his life to suport refugees and all others in need. I am happy we
said goodbye to him together with all his beloved ones at the specially
organised party in Kaloni in August. They knew he is going and he knew,
so he had the oportunity to make his last publik speach although
breathing with the help of big oxygen bottles.This priest and his NGO
AGALIA are something very special from Lesvos, showing how people from
different backgrounds unite and are efektiv and strong because
everything else ,all the diferences doesnt matter. thanks Papa Strati !
i allway remeber him specially ofering shoes outside Pagani, through the
fence.
The Mayor Spiros Galinos came yeasterday to the weekly koordination
meeting of the NGOs and Solidarity groups and told us following:
The situation on the island is very extrem and can get out of control
any minute.
Everyday arive 2.000-4.000 people. two boats and probably a third one
take every two days thousands to athens but the numbers of newcomers are
higher.
He therefore requested the greek goverment to make Lesvos an EMERGENCY
area now. this can be decide by the goverment.he mentioned that actually
so many people could be a positive aspect for the island but it is a
long work still to convince people to be welcoming.
i could not miss the oportunity to sugest to him since he makes the
island emergency he could combine it with calling all hotels taxis buses
to accept refugees and he would remain in history the major who
welcomed. He wants to do it but waits for the season to finish to
propose it. He wants to say to everyone WELCOME TO EUROPE!.(its the same
major who last year wanted to close PIKPA so he might have developed
with the situation).
Then he said for the situation now with 40.000 people that arived in
august only
(lesvos has 80.000 inhabitants) without any more people working for the
community or the hospital it is a wonder that the situation is till calm.
but this could change any minute.
He proposes to open the EVROS fence so people can enter and cross to
europe wihtout life danger.
He proposes and asks for help to realise it that charter companies come
to get the stuck refugees out of Lesvos.He is thankfull for whomever
would conatct charter companies for this. The refugees would pay
themselfs the tickets.
If you have ideas pls tell us.
He went to Turkey three days ago and spoke with 5 majors of towns (Izmir
.Ayvalik...) the idea was: since the EU doenst take her responsabilities
for the refugee issue, Greeks and Turks should take it in their hands
together and look for solutions.
One he proposed and was positivly responded was to make a meeting in
Lesvos and propose that camps are made in Türkey where the UNHCR will
register the refugees planning to go to europe. the ones aceppted should
then go directly to the countries they plan without entering Greece. (i
dont comment just say what he said).
Today in Moria were 5.000 people. Since the registration of Syrians is
now done directly and they will not have to stay in Kara tepe but get
the paper and try to go on the boat, Moria outside waiting refugees will
be transported to Karatepe .
Camps will be opend the next time for new comers in the north form UNHCR
and Borderline europe. More spaces are neede though.
The registration procedure blocks since 3-5 lap tops and up to 3-7
coastguard people are available to register the thousands ariving. The
bürocracy of registration need 19 interactions that make the
registration time so long. ( I try to find out more about this and
inform you).
the Village of all together decide on tuesday to make an open call to
the society
to open their homes taking people for few days.
also we will travel to SKALA SIKAMINIAS on sunday aftrenoon to meet with
the lokals and suport thier solidarity movement and bring stuff. They
have already found a space where newcomers could be welcomed.
my day yeasterday started meeting a young syrian priest who had just
walked 10 kilometers coming out of the sea and before had twice fallen
from the dingy to the sea and needed badly a rest an sleep. He had found
a room in a pension happily. He was schoked and trhouging up seawater.
It looked like the aegean was coming out of this desperate person.
in the evening late after the meeting i met a big group of men with 3
syrian women and 6 small children staring to walk to karatepe and took
them with the car there.
this is nothing special, all over are people who need transportation and
many cant undestrand why they are forbidden to take a taxi.
marily
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» Greece Mitilini news 3.9. Papa Stratis the solidarity priest of Lesvos died yesterday