Meeting at the UNHCR

Today I sat at a 2 hour meeting headed by Ms. Alessandra Morelli, Senior Operations Coordinator, UNHCR. 
Prior to coming to Greece there hasn't been much news coverage in the UK in regards to the Refugee Crisis which makes one think that the crisis is slowing down or going away. 
For this reason I was just astounded to hear that the record day for crossing over to Greece was actually the day before yesterday when 9,500 people landed on the Greek islands in one day alone.
The average arrivals for October is 5,900 and as Ms Morelli said the No 1 priority now for all humanitarian response should be what she termed, "Operation Winter". She echoed the UN High Commissioner for Refugees who said that not one person should die because of the winter in what has come to be called "The Great March".
She urged Church leaders to lobby their governments and the EU to provide more accommodation places in the islands. Only 7,000 places are to be provided by the end of November when the advocacy was for 50,000. Ms Morelli said that she fears that we will be having a crisis within the crisis.
The number of people who have crossed over to Greece this years has risen to 510,000 as of yesterday. In October 65,000 landed in Lesvos island alone, 23% of whom are children.
It is now becoming clear that the number of Syrian refugees is slowing down and yet the number of Afghans is rapidly increasing as the smugglers lower their prices. Yet it is quiet apparent that in the EU the non-Syrians are very much discriminated.

As I share with you this, I think how often when we use big numbers like this, we forget that each number is a fellow human being, a person made in the image and likeness of God, therefore precious in God's eyes.

I was just so honoured and grateful today to be in the same room with people who are passionate for defending, providing, protecting and caring for our fellow human beings who are in this Great March.

The Salvation Army in Greece, although very small, has been working tirelessly to provide whatever help they could give with food, drink, clothing, items for children etc. Today the 2nd member of our deployed team from the International Emergency Services has arrived and on Monday the 3rd person would arrive to complete the team. 

Pray with me that God will give us wisdom as we work together with The Salvation Army in Greece to try and fill some of the gaps that exist in the humanitarian response to this mega crisis that takes place in Europe today.