This project will provide emergency aid and psychosocial support to refugees and first responders in Europe, primarily the Serbian/Hungarian border and Greece - the countries that are bearing the brunt of the recent mass influx of refugees.
As of September 2015, more than 300,000 refugees and migrants have attempted the treacherous crossing into Europe, with already more than 2,600 dying in the process this year alone. In the midst of this exodus, European states are completely overwhelmed, and are struggling to deal with the sudden and massive upsurge in the sheer numbers of refugees. Entire families arrive in Europe tired, sick, and traumatized, devoid of any belongings, and carrying the burdens and scars of years of conflict.
In the face of this rapidly growing crisis, IsraAID has teams on the ground in Greece and the Serbian/Hungarian border to support local efforts on the ground to provide immediate aid (mainly food, clothes, and hygiene kits), medical services, and psychosocial support.
We will conduct psychosocial training for the governmental and non-governmental professionals on the frontlines of the refugee crisis in the affected countries, providing them with the tools needed to support and care for a population that has gone through extreme suffering and trauma. In addition, such training will also enable those first responders on the front line to avoid burnout and secondary trauma through selfcare and other coping mechanisms.
