Some days ago we visited again Malakasa in order to get in touch with the migrants who stay in the two camps of the area. The miserable living conditions and suffocating atmosphere, in particular on the pretext of Covid-19, became evident from the first moment: from their need to talk to us in order to communicate their problems and anxiety, as well as develop forms of resistance to them. Indicatively some of the most serious problems mentioned in the biggest of the two camps:
– Too many people, among them whole families, live in tents, many of which having literally zero distance from each other.
– It is obvious that hygiene conditions are appalling, making any reference to protection measures against Covid-19 meaningless in the camp, where a person recently died due to the virus. An evidence of the specific conditions is the fact that mice have been found in spaces where people live.
– No realistic perspective for people to be examined by doctors for a long time now, causing their health problems to accululate and deteriorate.
– Cold becomes more and more unbearable during nights, especially for those who live in tents and/or have not been supplied with blankets.
– There is shortage in basic necessities, like infant milk, clothes and shoes, as well as toys for the many kids residing in the camp.
– No form of education is provided at all to the children, most of them struggling to even access online lessons due to unstable and insufficient internet connection.
– No ATM available in the camp, forbidding people from withdrawing money in order to cover themselves needs not covered by the camp otherwise.
– A feeling of danger prevails during nights, especially among children and women.
– Asylum or papers procedures are over-complicated, unfair and without any kind of support.
If this all sounds already too much and inhumane, the condition in the second camp is even worse. Not only access to this camp is forbidden, but even taking photos of spaces visible to the outside is prohibited. This is indicative of the tragic situation inside the camp, which “must” by all means remain unseen to the outside along with the lives of those living in it.
This is the reality created by the greek state, European Union, the domestic and foreign capital interwined with the refugee problem, the international “humanitarian” organisations and the –at best– mainpulable NGOs, for the today’s persecuted of this world. On the other hand, despite any difficulties encountered, we experienced a feeling of hope and possibilities for the near future.
The thanks from the migrants for basic necessities they were given, their eagerness to get in touch with locals and migrants in genuine solidarity with them, the glances of trust interchanged among us, our discussions of how to pursue their demands, the emotional transition from disappointment and resignation to anger and the will to act here and now, even their readiness to offer us coffee or tea, this all are moments from our tomorrow’s coexistence as well as the necessary fights of today for it to take place in a society of freedom and justice for everyone.
