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"Nobody puts their child in a boat unless water is safer than land." - Warsan Shire
That says a lot considering the dangerous trip across the choppy, winter waters of the Aegean Sea that thousands of Syrians are taking right now, today. Not all of them will make it. About 2,500 have died so far trying to reach Europe in flimsy rafts and dinghies. Those that make it arrive overstuffed by smugglers in these tiny boats, often wounded, hypothermic and in shock. They have lost everything, risked everything. Their homeland has been wracked by a civil war for years. Hundreds of thousands have died. Millions have been displaced, fleeing their own government with its barrel bombs and poison gas, and a number of rebel groups.
For many of the refugees fleeing Syria, the first point of entry to Europe is the Greek island of Lesbos. The small tourist destination with a population of 90,000 is being flooded with arrivals each day (about 400,000 so far). Their needs far exceed the capacity of the small teams of exhausted volunteers that are working to meet them. They need food, dry clothing, baby carriers, rain gear, camping supplies, medical care and instructions on where to go for the next leg of their long journey through Europe. This will likely begin with another 40 miles on foot to camp, as it is illegal for cabs or individuals to transport them. There they will exist in desperate conditions until they are released to make the next trip to the mainland and ultimately to their final resettlement destination. What is certain, is that they will be met with a cold "We don't want you here," many times along the way.
My name is Belle Sweeney. I believe in being of service to my own community and country first- needs are great and are everywhere. However, in order for this world to work, we must allow for those times when the pain and crisis is so great, and so emergent, that we are compelled to act immediately and with our own hands, no matter the distance. I will be traveling to Lesbos on December 6th and the purpose of this last minute fundraiser is to have money available for supplies ONLY, not for any of my own personal expenses or trip costs. Records of supplies purchased will be available at any time to any supporters. I will be leaving the fundraiser open throughout my trip and beyond and will be continually donating all supplies purchased with funds raised as this crisis will likely continue for many months to come. Please consider supporting this effort.
One last thing.
Regardless of your feelings about immigration and migration, we are not talking about that right now. We are talking about refugees- innocent victims of war. Refugees are not immigrants. Half of the refugees fleeing Syria right now are children and they are not somehow different than our children. Not less scared, not less vulnerable, not less lovable. Not less.
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