We had a late night last night talking about donated cloths and recycling and how we could best set this up here in Athens to help the refugees. Jan, of course, is an expert coming from the Netherlands with an experience of more than 10 years as head of the logistics for The Salvation Army's recycling.
It was refreshing to hear also of the vision and dreams of Major Polis Pantelidis for the things that The Salvation Army could offer in this city.
It was so late by the time we finished that I had no strength to sit in front of my laptop and share with you my news.
Yesterday Jan and I walked around the city checking out some of the spots that refugees migrated in the past: Omonoia square and Pedion tou Areos. We've heard reports that tents started going up again in these places. We went to check it out and found that these were false reports.
Walked through Victoria Square once again and I had a chat with some more Afghan young people.
I would agree with the UNHCR that we see more and more Afghan families now and not just single young men as was the case a little while ago.
I got to speaking with Mohamed Rahim (pictured here 3rd from the left) who told me that as his crossing the sea with his friends, to get into Greece their outboard motor stopped. They all panicked and din't know what to do. Thankfully the sea was calm and so they sat there quietly hopping for the best. An hour or two later a helicopter spotted them and soon help arrived and they were towed to safety. I was so happy to hear that there was a happy ending to this story.
But in the evening news we've heard of a 2 year old child slipping through its life-jacket and falling in the sea. Despite the desperate attempts of the parents and those on board to locate the child, this was yet another child that was lost at sea.
Tragically again on the news today we hear that a mother and two children died and 7 people are still lost on the shores of Lesvos island. The plastic boat and its 63 passengers capsized as it crashed on rocks in rough seas.
(Photo courtesy of ΑΠΕ, source: http://news.in.gr/)
O the desperation that drives these refugees to risk their lives with the hope of a better future for them and their children.
The pain and the endless sorrow that tragedies like these bring on the families of those already suffering people!
So glad to see young mums like this in the square who made it safe with their children.
May God help this little child to live happily ever after and may God comfort the hearts of those who morn for their family members who died on this great march.
On the news again this evening that the FYROM borders may close. Is there more suffering ahead?
It was refreshing to hear also of the vision and dreams of Major Polis Pantelidis for the things that The Salvation Army could offer in this city.
It was so late by the time we finished that I had no strength to sit in front of my laptop and share with you my news.
Yesterday Jan and I walked around the city checking out some of the spots that refugees migrated in the past: Omonoia square and Pedion tou Areos. We've heard reports that tents started going up again in these places. We went to check it out and found that these were false reports.
Walked through Victoria Square once again and I had a chat with some more Afghan young people.
I would agree with the UNHCR that we see more and more Afghan families now and not just single young men as was the case a little while ago.
I got to speaking with Mohamed Rahim (pictured here 3rd from the left) who told me that as his crossing the sea with his friends, to get into Greece their outboard motor stopped. They all panicked and din't know what to do. Thankfully the sea was calm and so they sat there quietly hopping for the best. An hour or two later a helicopter spotted them and soon help arrived and they were towed to safety. I was so happy to hear that there was a happy ending to this story.
But in the evening news we've heard of a 2 year old child slipping through its life-jacket and falling in the sea. Despite the desperate attempts of the parents and those on board to locate the child, this was yet another child that was lost at sea.
Tragically again on the news today we hear that a mother and two children died and 7 people are still lost on the shores of Lesvos island. The plastic boat and its 63 passengers capsized as it crashed on rocks in rough seas. (Photo courtesy of ΑΠΕ, source: http://news.in.gr/)
O the desperation that drives these refugees to risk their lives with the hope of a better future for them and their children.
The pain and the endless sorrow that tragedies like these bring on the families of those already suffering people!
So glad to see young mums like this in the square who made it safe with their children.
May God help this little child to live happily ever after and may God comfort the hearts of those who morn for their family members who died on this great march.
On the news again this evening that the FYROM borders may close. Is there more suffering ahead?
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