ReliefWeb

SITUATION IN IDOMENI DETERIORATED FURTHER LAST WEEKEND

by Steffen Richter, 2016/04/11

Start of the outbound return to Turkey, immensely challenging conditions, lack of prospects: unfortunately the situation in the unofficial refugee camp Idomeni at the Greek-Macedonian border has further deteriorated since Sunday last week. Again and again direct confrontations between security guards and refugees erupted, tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades were used.

For almost one month now humedica engages in the mobile health care for refugees in the illegal camps surrounding Idomeni. Due to extremely bad conditions, a disastrous supply situation and the start of the outbound return to Turkey the situation worsened considerably during the weekend, the security situation is tense.

"I am sorry to confirm that during the last hours we had to treat an increasing number of people, who suffered from injuries clearly caused by physical conflicts with the security forces." reports Raphael Marcus, head of emergency and disaster response at humedica. "In light of the escalating situation we already pulled out our team for several hours."

Also the humedica heaquarters in Kaufbeuren watch the intervention with greatest care and sensitivity. "The security of the whole team must be ensured, otherwise this intervention can not go on", clarifies general manager Wolfgang Groß and urgently appeals: "We need solutions not only for the refugees and expellees, but also for the affected countries along the Balkan route. The situation, we now have to deal with, is continually deteriorating.”

humedica aks the people in Germany to continue to support the aid measures along the Balkan route, especially to acquire a mobile ambulance based on a 7,5 ton truck, also to be used for future interventions in disaster areas.

NOTE: We offer the opportunity to arrange a personal interview with our intervention team in Idomeni. For further information please contact humedica head of communication Steffen Richter.