The ongoing Syrian refugee crisis is an infinitely complex problem that European leaders are grappling with as we speak. With winter approaching, many of the individuals who have safely made it to refugee centres across the continent are finding themselves without basic necessities like warm clothing.
Delen
This is one of the reasons why Tonia Tzortzi, who works for TU Delft’s Central International Office, and a handful of volunteers have spent the past several months gathering donations to support refugees in Greece.
Tzortzi brought the group together after volunteering for a charity called Kos Solidarity last summer. She and her colleagues call it ‘Organizing Volunteers in Delft’ and they’ve been hard at work since September. Since then, they’ve donated over twenty pallets of clothing, food, sleeping bags and hygiene products to refugees in Greece. They plan to keep going but they’re currently faced with a series of logistical hurdles. “After almost two months, I can sadly say that sometimes there are only two or three volunteers,” Tzortzi said. “And I can totally understand that, as this has been a side-job for many of us.”
In addition to needing additional manpower, the group is trying to overcome complications that range from administrative entanglements to a seemingly never-ending lack of packaging supplies. They’re also currently in the process of reaching out to humanitarian organisations like the Red Cross.
Meanwhile, the need for clothing and supplies in the centres is as great as ever. “The conditions that refugees have to go through are inhuman, heartbreaking and it’s simply unacceptable to let them live this way,” Tzortzi said. “People harassed, exhausted and sick, forced to live in tents under the rain and in the cold. There is an urgent need for shelter, food and support.”
The items most needed are winter jackets, men’s trousers (primarily sizes small and medium), underwear (only new), boxes and packing tape. Clean clothing in good condition is ideal. The group currently meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 19:00 – 21:00 at Kappeyne van de Coppellostraat 6 in Delft. They could also use additional volunteers to sort through donations and prepare them for delivery.
If you would like to help ‘Organizing Volunteers in Delft’ with a donation or another form of assistance, further information can be found on their Facebook page.
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