Solidarity Symi Friday Update

More than a hundred men, women and children of all ages (including a week old baby) arrived on Symi this morning and are now gathered around the police station, awaiting processing.  Our relief centre is in the old post office which adjoins the police station, to the left of the picture, behind the palm trees.  

Meanwhile yesterday's arrivals are now camping outside the coastguard/port police office, waiting for their travel documents so that they can take the ferry tonight to Pireus to continue their journey.  Here you can see Wendy Wilcox, one of the directors of Solidarity Symi, distributing fruit, water and biscuits to those who have not been able to buy breakfast in the harbour.  Cartons of milk were also given to the women and children.

Syrian men waiting outside the coastguard office in Yialos. The women and children are around the corner, sitting higher up the steps where they will have spent an uncomfortable night.  While Wendy and I were waiting for the breakfast supplies to arrive, I spoke to one young man.  He said that he was part of a group of 67 people who came over from Turkey in 2 inflatable boats this week.  The people traffickers charged them 2500 US dollars per person for the trip which took three and a half hours and was truly terrifying but, as he said, 'what choice do we have?'  

Look out for our emblem and our collection boxes at the Symi Visitor Accommodation office and the Old Markets hotel. Cash donations made on the island go towards providing daily necessities such as food, water and medicine.  Donations made on line at http://www.everyclick.com/solidaritysymi/info  will be used for more permanent assistance and infrastructure.  Donations of clothes, shoes,  sunhats, nappies, non-perishable food, toiletries, ruck sacks, sleeping bags and toys can be handed in at the relief centre at the old post office by the clock tower between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.  If you can also give the gift of time, please call Wendy on +30 6945 822 896 to schedule a shift!