A Mama's Perspective

"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat." 

Mother Teresa

Today, I went to the Gevgelija Refugee Camp, with Zo.

It was a hot day - much hotter than it has been in the last couple of weeks. With temperatures passing 90 degrees, I felt a little silly lugging 10 blankets to the store house; however, everyone over here knows that winter is coming and the camp is not prepared.

By the time Zo and I unloaded all of the diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, baby shampoo, and blankets from Ethelina (our van) and our friend's car, we were pouring sweat. We had to then wait in the storage house until the UNHCR planning meeting was finished, with the hopes that I would be able to get a pass to enter the camp.  We weren't sure when we drove the two hours to Gevgelija, this morning, if I would be approved so quickly.

After only about a 30 minutes, a man from the NGO (non governmental organization) we are working with, returned with good news!  He had a badge for me!  So, Zo and I piled into his car for the 1 1/2 mile ride to the refugee camp.

The first thing Zo noticed is that the bridge he was unable to cross last week, was now completely empty. No refugees anywhere to be seen as we drove the streets of Gevgelija.  The man told us that the camp would be "mostly empty" now, as a train had just departed, carrying 1,000 men, women, and children north, to Serbia.  He also said that now that Hungary was closing its borders, the refugee path had turned west in Serbia, and cut through Croatia and Slovenia, Austria, and into Germany.

I had my camera with me, and my cell phone, and a small bag of bite-sized Snickers I had brought from the States.  I really wanted to take pictures, so that I can show people back home the conditions of the camp and the faces of the real people who are making the trip from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, etc in search of safety or a better life. But, honestly, when I walked up to the camp, I felt gross pulling my camera out of my purse. I didn't want to take pictures of people who are struggling so greatly...I didn't want them to feel like animals in a zoo....I was torn. Completely torn. So didn't take any pictures as we entered the camp.

The first tents we visited were the Family Rest Area tents.  They have been set up by the NGO we are working with, to give children a place to play and relax, give baths and fresh diapers to babies, and to give their mothers the ability to rest.  On the back walls of the tents, were pictures that the children have drawn, while they wait for trains or buses to take them to their next stop in their journey. I was so moved by the pictures of smiling children and families that the children had drawn. Smiling faces. Happy sunshine. Houses. Trees. Childhood. There, I could take my camera out and grab snapshots of the beauty and simplicity of childhood, even in the midst of an absolute mess.

Then, the volunteers showed me where they are bathing the babies. It's a great little system that is helping families. However, it will only be possible for the next 3 weeks or so. After that, the weather with change and the ability to bathe babies will be gone - unless we/they are able to come up with a way to warm up the water (they are currently using bottled drinking water) and keep the babies inside somewhere warm to change them.  It is a definite need.

A precious little girl was so afraid, and unhappy because the water was cold. The women volunteers were quick with a smile and let her pick out the dress she wanted from the pile of clothes.  Her tears dried quickly as the women dried her sweet little body. By the time they were done, she was smiling and chatting in her native language.



The only other pictures I felt comfortable enough to take were these:

A tent where refugees waited for the next train (they are running 4 trains a day, holding 1,000 people each). The situation is quite fluid, because of all of the countries that are involved.  The ever-changing open borders vs. closed borders, and the ebb and flow of refugees makes planning and organizing difficult, to say the least. One of the NGO volunteers, who has helped in refugee situations in other places said, "this one (situation) should be over relatively quickly - maybe one year or so." That didn't sound comforting, at all.


And an Afghan man and his son, who were travelling alone.  He was trying to wash his son at the hand washing station - which is not sanitary enough for little ones. He was very grateful when the volunteers took him and his son to the baby bathing/changing station.  When we left, his son was having his diaper changed (a much-needed task) and he was smiling.

A couple of things for you to consider, with us:

1) how to keep the babies warm while they are bathed.  They do have some electricity available, but I'm not sure to what extent. This sign was posted directly behind the tent.

2) there is a need for some type of playground equipment, if possible. Could also be indoor play equipment, for use when the weather changes.

3) other needs include:  kool-aid type powder that has vitamins in it, to add to the water bottles for the children, extension cords (the Macedonian kind - we can buy them here for $5-10), garbage bags, bottled water, and CHOCOLATE (that was a big hit with the kids!)

If you feel led to donate, please contact me!  We can also receive boxes of supplies, at a physical address in Skopje - though please understand that shipping is quite expensive.

In closing, I must share one of the things that hit me the hardest. The moment when, a man from an NGO said, "I've worked in crisis refugee situations in Bosnia in 1991, and in Kosovo in 1999, and others.  Do you know what's missing here?  Do you know what we need?  The Americans. They are not here.  We all know that if the Americans were helping, we wouldn't have all these problems."  I cried most of the way home.

This weekend, we will go to Skopje to get more supplies. And next week, we will return to Gevgelija.