The Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos has been in the spotlight of the European migration crisis numerous times, but the disastrous conditions seem to have reached a new low. Luca Fontana, the co-coordinator of Doctors without Borders' (MSF) operations on the island, tells InfoMigrants how alarming the conditions have become in the camp, especially for young asylum seekers.
Overcrowding. Violence. Uncleanliness. These are only a few of the words that have been used to describe Greece's Moria migrant camp on Lesbos. Now, in an interview with InfoMigrants, Luca Fontana, the co-coordinator of operations on the island, said that children are even making suicide attempts there. "There are children who try to harm themselves as well as children who cannot sleep due to suicidal ideation," he said. These children are traumatized often due to the conflicts they experienced in their home countries. He said that the poor conditions in the Moria camp are just worsening their situation, describing the camp as a "jungle."
Lack of access to mental health care
"We are running a mental health program for children, with therapy groups and consultations for the most severe cases," he continued. "But the problem is that there is no child psychologist or psychiatrist on the island which means the children have their access to medical care denied because they are not moved to Athens in order to accept specialized care."
MSF's mental health clinic is located in Mytilene, the capital of Lesbos and the organization is the only NGO providing mental health treatment to the migrant population on the island. At the Mytilene clinic, the children often draw together in group therapy to deal with the trauma they experienced at home, during their trip to Europe or due to the poor conditions of the camp.
Fontana said that although there are suicide attempts, there have been no actual suicides carried out. He said this is due to the lack of privacy in the camp.
The asylum seekers on the island fled from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and Congo, countries where war is often a daily reality. "I wish I could go back to a peaceful Syria," Kasim one of the migrants interviewed by MSF in the camp said. Originally from the northern city of Deir el-Zor, he promised that "If there was peace in Syria, I would not wait here one minute." Syrians are the majority in the camp, followed by Afghans.
Wait times for basic services long, conditions are 'horrible'
Migrants in the camp have to wait a long time to get any medical care, as the camp is so overcrowded. Fontana mentioned that the official capacity of the camp is 3,000 people, but right now there are almost 8,500 refugees there, many of whom are living in tents. 3,000 of the 8000 people in the camp are children. "The living conditions are horrible," he added.
He said that there are very few toilets -- about 1 toilet per 50 to 60 people. The migrants are served three meals a day, but have to wait in line. Fontana explained that sometimes the migrants have to wait three hours per meal. "People have to fight for food and medical services."
In July, MSF wrote on their website several urgent requests. The MSF wants vulnerable people in the camp to be moved to more secure accommodation and for "decongestion of the camp" as well as stepping up health and security for those in the camp.