Since our Media Manager, Beth, finished her six months of much appreciated work and left our team to go back home, we are forming our new team on Lesvos. There will be an update in the upcoming week. This newblog will give a monthly update about the situation in Lesvos, political developments, the effects on the refugees as well as the locals on the island, and also news about the sewery. Because of the named reasons we will give a late update for october, we still think there are lots of stories we want to share:
After heat follows a heavy rain
It has been another busy few months here amongst the refugee community here on Lesvos and in Mavrovouni refugee camp. As is typical in the refugee environment, every week sees new developments and those of late have been no different. Here is a summary of the latest activity. After the extreme heat of August, Autumn made an early and abrupt entrance with torrential rain and thunderstorms for a number of days in the middle of October. It is these weather extremes which expose the vulnerabilities of the refugees living in very basic tents and containers. Thankfully, the new drainage channels built in the camp prevented any serious flooding, something which caused really problems at the Samos refugee camp.
Global Handwashing Day and another Fire
In the name of the Global Handwashing Day on 15th October, our partners Starfish Foundation and a group of NGO’s in the camp, held activities to promote the day dedicated to promotion and awareness of washing hands with soap. Alongside a busy safehands washing station, other activities included education, art and sports for children and distribution of adults and children’s masks, soap and hand sanitiser. The participants enjoyed the activities on offer and also learned about the hygienic aspect of washing hands.
The hygienic aspect in Mavrovouni refugee camp is life saveing 
The children playfully learned.
At the same time, refugees had to experience the outbreak of a fire in camp.The fire took place in the single mens rubhall tents; thankfully it was extinguished before expanding much more but it brought back many memories of the devastating events of Moria last year. It happened inthe same week of October as the heavy rain broke out.
Facts of the Mavrovouni camp
Lastly, here are some numbers to give you a sense of scale here at Mavrovouni camp:
- The total population in the camp stands at 2651 which is almost one third made up of children.
- Only about half of the adult refugees, 1273, have been fully vaccinated against Covid19.
(Status: 5th of November 2021)
