My donors bought 32 cookers for Vial. Cooking brings people together, gives some purpose to day and an opportunity to exercise the ‘gift’ of choice. This does not happen when you stand in a line waiting for a plastic container filled with nutrient free, overcooked, vegetable absent, tasteless food. So I thought this was an investment worth making.

When you can cook, the day has some focus, a walk to nearest decent shop, choose your food, prepare it then share with your family and friends.

There were 2 small distributions neither without issues. I had 2 amazing helpers; both speak great English, are highly educated and ontop of this, they have an enviable work ethic. However, beneath the warm smiles, energy and willingness to help… you can see how this work drains the spirit. You can never keep Every one happy in Vial, it’s not that kind of place. So they are constantly having to deal with a few disgruntled residents of the camp.

One helper lives in Vial he knows most of the people who come and go from the camp. He created a list of people who needed cookers the most, then on the morning of the first distribution they went into camp and gave those families / groups tickets. The rule – 1 tent or 1 container = 1 cooker. The problem is that some have 3 or 4 families in 1 small container, sometimes from different countries with different languages and cultures. It cant always be easy to share in this situation. I waited by the car and when someone came with a ticket, they got a cooker.

All worked well for 3/4 of the time, people were relieved and incredibly grateful to be given the ability to claw back a little independence.

But, then people came to the car without tickets, I took their tent/container number and sent them to the team inside. There were grumbles that the; African people/ Afghani people/ Arab people/ Iraqi people etc hadn’t been given cookers .. only the (this changed depending on who was speaking) people were receiving cookers. I understand this view, in a place like Vial how can you feel that that you are being treated fairly and equally.

More people came, so I quickly moved the car higher up the hill, past the camp. The last thing needed was to attract the attention of the police.

I returned the night before I was leaving with more cookers.. there were more problems of the same kind, this worried me. I do get concerned about the people who help volunteer groups and live in the camp. Concerned that they could maybe become targets for the building frustrations at the lack of provision for basic human needs. But they assure me I should not worry, with a smile and a shrug they tell me.. “it’s normal here, tomorrow will be the same “.