Athens 14th April, 2016
Doctors of the World International Network Press Release
Eight chapters of the organization joined in Thessaloniki to show their solidarity with Greece and the major humanitarian crisis faced by the migrants/refugees blocked there since all borders closed.
MdM Network works all along the migrants routes from Syria, Pakistan, Jordan to Sweden.
It is a strong disappointment to see that policy makers in all our countries didn’t listen to the citizens voices calling for solidarity with migrants/ refugees, they didn’t agree on the plan to welcome them in all European countries and decided instead of a non response: the EU Turkey agreement that does not respect peoples choices, people fundamental rights.
We strongly oppose closed detention centres as a response, and we decided to keep our care activities in them in order to support the people, mainly unaccompanied minors and to bear witness on their situation. We also strongly oppose expulsions instead of protection.
MdM Presidents insisted on major points after talking with MdM team and migrant patients in Idomeni.
-We face a new situation with so many children (around 40% of all people seen) living without any adapted environment: lack of sanitation, lack of schools, lack of vaccination campaigns
-Today the people surviving in the camp faced a new violence with army helicopters and planes flying very low over their heads, with a tremendous noise, throwing children back to the nightmares they have fled in their country of origin. Fear, tears, and trauma revival, what for? Intimidation?
-Most affected people in the camp are the ones facing multiple vulnerabilities, children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, people with mental health problems. There is an immediate need for improved international standard of sanitation, food, living conditions, vaccination strategy…and protected spaces for women who face even more violence.
-We ask for safe legal ways to flee from unsafe countries to European countries, for humane reception conditions especially for children. Migrants/refugees are a part of our common future.
-We demand a new political response based on solidarity and safety for the refugees/migrants
MdM BE, DE, CH, NL, UK, FR, EL, ES