John,
In September, a major fire on the island of Lesvos, Greece, destroyed the largest refugee camp in Europe and left over 12,000 asylum seekers and refugees suddenly displaced once again.
The situation is dire: Right now, there are over 7,800 asylum seekers residing in a new emergency camp, established in the aftermath of the Moria fire. The camp lacks critical drainage, water, sanitation, hygiene, and health service infrastructure, leaving many residents vulnerable to flooding and extreme temperatures, as well as illness and hygiene concerns, without access to adequate care or psychosocial support. Asylum seekers in the camp also struggle to access asylum procedures and essential legal services, and on top of everything else, face serious risk of violence, including gender-based violence.
Under these difficult conditions, HIAS is providing asylum seekers with critical legal protection to help them access asylum procedures and referrals for medical care. We are working to identify particularly vulnerable refugees who are in need of transfer to mainland Greece and advocating on their behalf. And we monitor human rights violations as they relate to camp conditions and access to asylum. But this essential work isn’t possible without you, so please: Will you donate $18 or more right now to provide urgently needed resources to refugees and asylum seekers in Greece and around the world?
In this critical moment, in addition to providing free legal assistance, the HIAS team in Greece needs resources to expand our mental health support for asylum seekers, many of whom are survivors of sexual and physical violence.
Despite the uncertainties of this tragedy, one thing is for sure: No matter what, HIAS will always be there to support refugees and asylum seekers in their moments of crisis. But our lifesaving work isn’t possible without you, so we’re asking you to step up with a donation today:
Thank you so much. Your gift makes a critical difference for those in search of safety.
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