You can judge a society by how its treats the most vulnerable

This is an amended quote from Ghandi and if we think this is true then Europe must be judged very harshly.

I met a man in Vial camp last week, he is one of the most vulnerable people I have ever met. From Syria, he lost his family during an air strike and was very badly injured. Somehow, he and his cousin managed to make it to Greece. I find it hard to imagine how they suffered on the way, not even taking into account how their lives were marred by war and persecution before they got here.

So they arrive on a rubber dinghy and are taken to Vial, the man (I will call him Paul) is taken to Vial camp. There a doctor sees him and sends him to the hospital, soon after, the hospital discharges him back to Vial.

He lives in a small green tent out of sight at the back of the camp, outside the main camp due to lack of space. He can only eat pureed food and so his cousin tries to keep him alive by mashing up food for him. To eat, he needs to lie on his back and the food poured into his mouth, he has very little of jaw left and maybe even no tongue. Paul’s cousin is finding is harder and harder to feed him. Psychologically they are both traumatised.

The next morning I contacted the Doctor in Vial (just by luck another volunteer knew him) and made an appointment before the afternoon surgery started. A member of Chios Solidarity is also pressurising UNHCR. The same morning, I took some baby food, juice and water (with sports caps) – small things, but I hoped it would give Paul some nutrition before he saw the doctor, and help his cousin to care for him. When he was given the food and cried with gratitude. Let that sink in for a minute.. this is how we treat the traumatised and vulnerable.

The doctor has put through an urgent appeal to have Paul moved into an apartment, along with his cousin. They may not be able to treat Paul’s extensive injuries on Chios – so I pray for an urgent transfer to Athens for treatment.

#whereisthehumanity #vial

Love and solidarity

Emma