Lesvos has been flooded with fascist groups that have been blocking all of the roads, beating up refugees, NGO volunteers and journalists.
Yesterday after our medical clinic worked our 9 hour shift, we were told by our director that we could not safely drive back to the village where we stay as there were gangs of fascists blocking all of the main roads. In a caravan of 8 cars, we headed down dirt roads behind the refugee camp, trying to find alternative roads and paths back to the town of Mytilene. As soon as we got back on the main road, a group of about 50 heavily armed men with masks (with metal pipes and large sticks…many with nails on the ends of them) attacked our caravan. We somehow were able to escape…all of our caravan of 8 cars filled with mostly doctors and nurses going in different directions. The rental car that I was driving was completely damaged (broken windshield, side windows kicked in, etc….but I was the only one suffering with broken glass in my hand…a miracle given what could have happened). We turned the car around and took off only to be followed for miles by fascists on motorcycles and in truck beds, kicking at our windows as they drive along side us. Horrifying. We came upon a bus of riot police and the demonstrators took off. We somehow made it back to the refugee camp, where we hid out all night in the dark cold, fed by the refugees.
At 4:30am a small NGO group (Euro Relief) came to our rescue and one car at a time, drove us out of the camp, and back to our rented rooms in Mytilene. Most of our medical staff have already flown out. I remain here for a couple of days more as I straighten out the rental car damages and my responsibilities… I had to abandon the car at the refugee camp last night.
We are safe and still in hiding as the town and surrounding roads have been taken over by rioting mobs. They are out tonight and we can hear them in the middle of the main square shouting. Craziness. Our embassies have been notified, but they are only in Athens.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of refugees are still trying to make it to this island and the northern borders of Greece as Turkey (under Erdogan) has opened its borders, allowing refugees to leave Turkey. It is a humanitarian crisis with thousands drowning, in the cold, with no food or shelter, and the Greek rioters here not allowing the arriving rafts to disembark. Two children, ages 5 and 8, have drowned since last night. Chaos and all NGO’s in hiding.
What is to become of the refugees? It is horrifically sad, and there is now no way to help here. I will fly out in a few days and volunteer from Athens where it is safer.
Thank you all for your support and reaching out to me as you’ve heard the news of what is happening here.
News pieces about the attack:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-bristol-51708627
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/04/we-left-fearing-for-our-lives-doctors-set-upon-by-mob-in-lesbos?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
This was a radio interview with one of the doctors in the car I was driving…listen:https://www.rte.ie/radio/radioplayer/html5/#/radio1/21723522
