Disaster Response Greece Project #34750

OPEN YOUR HUG TO FIRE VICTIMS. GREECE NEEDS YOU

by Kid & Family

Project Report | Aug 4, 2021
Greece in fire! 40fires within 24 hours. In Athens, Burned houses & Fire Victimes are countless

By Roumpini Terzaki | Project Leader

HUGE FIRES IN ATHENS THREATENT ALL FAMILIES

Dear friends,

It is happening NOW! The moment i write you we are on the ground of a new fire in the capital of Greece , Athens. It is the 3rd huge fire in the city. Houses are burning. The flames have covered many flats and houses. People are blocked in their own houses. Explotions all over the area.

A new fire now! Just about 10’ ago! Its in Athens! Look how close from the houses.

https://www.newsbeast.gr/greece/arthro/7675133/oi-kapnoi-apo-ti-fotia-sti-varybobi-erixan-25-vathmous-ti-thermokrasia?utm_medium=onesignal&utm_source=notification&utm_campaign=alert&utm_content=post

It is still impossible to approach but from the air. The police forces , our volunteers and the civil protection we all try to give help and guidance to people so they escape their houses. Firemen with 50 camions are on the ground. The heat has overpassed the 48 Celcium.

Can't give water and blankets to some people they are still at their homes. We get wet with water to approach the fire and in 2 minutes we are dry. I lost my glasses, 2 minutes ago, so please forgive my mistakes. I can hardly see of the smoke and my laptop maybe will shut down from battery.

I couldnt resist to cover this and you ll get informed that we have a huge need of helping hands and support.

The moment that we all were taking a breath from 1 year and a half continues lockdown, faceing all kind of troubles to feed people and taking care of their mental health issues instead of going on with some days of vacation to refil our batteries, we have to face gotrd s;; over the country, work to the maximum. Here is all details and maps of the fires we have to face during July 2021

http://beyond-eocenter.eu/index.php/thematic-areas/disasters/fires

As you ll see the areas are huge all over the country, in Attika -Athens as well.

Doctors, Firemen and volunteers transporting essencials for citizens , we all give a crucial fight to save lifes, properties and the desaster for the planet. The catastrofy is phenomenal. Within 116 active fires in the country the 3 fires in the city of Athens , burning houses and people was the last think expected. I strongly believe the planet need our support. Fires like that i ve never seen in my entire life...! This fire can not stop!

It will come to the center, as the heat of the last week left every centimeter of the earth deaply dry. I pray we ll be ALL UNITED on plannet as we took too much care till now as humans to our conforts and NOT to our Plannet.

ATHENS

Yesterday, Tuesday 2 of August a new huge fire in Attika, Varibobi area and Kryoneri, threatens thousants of houses. Today we cant approach the area. The goverment ask people to leave their houses to the closest communities to the fire and for the rest of citizents they advise they close all windows , doors etc as the smoke and dust is much accumulated and can poison them. At the same time another fire in a Greek village in Attica, northeast of central Athens, is blazing close to residential areas, we were there with all forces of our doctors and essencials to help on Tuesday.Strong winds reaching up to force 6 on the Beaufort scale (39-49 kilometers per hour, 25-31 miles per hour) are reportedly making the situation more difficult in the village of Stamata, North East Attica, part of the municipality of Dionysos.

"Strong firefighting forces are doing whatever possible to prevent the flames from reaching the houses of the Galini settlement in Stamata,” Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, a fire brigade spokesman, told state news agency Athens-Macedonian.

The Galini settlement has been already evacuated. The fire burns houses in town

Dionysos Mayor Yiannis Kalafatelis earlier urge people to leave their homes throught local media. The area, located in a rich forested pine area, is densely inhabited.

Firefighting forces operating in the area include 14 fire engines with 43 firefighters, two teams on foot, four firefighting aircraft, and five water-dropping helicopters. The fire was initially detected by a fire hub system which monitors natural disasters via satellite pictures in Southeastern Europe.

OUR NEEDS

We urge all friends to support our teams as Greece faces 116 fires all over the country. Athens and Attica are strongly threatened when for the next week as the heat rises to 45-47 Celcium, there are many electricity AND water cuts!!! We need equipment to approach fire victimes that refuse to abandonned their property as they had the experience of the wild fire in MATI municipality of Marathonas 2 years ago! People who left were dead even those who jumbed in the sea.

EMERGENCY NEEDS: Equipment to cover saftely volunteers doctors

Medicines and oxygen

Water, blankets for ypothermia are urgently needed.

Please take a look at the photos and links attached. Sorry i dont give much photos. It is difficult to breath and move here.!

NEXT STEP for the future of life and the planet

As we relize that heat augments all over the planet, we start a campaign of tree planting all over Greece and the planet.

After the example of just 2 people who planned within 19 years 2million trees we are convinced that aumgnenting the green areas on every part of the planet will save the life of all the human community in it.

So as Humans United Globally we invite you to OPEN YOUR HUG to HELP PEOPLE NOW and HELP THE PLANET TO RECOVER Supporting our efforts we ll hopefuly cure not only the fire victimes who augment day by day BUT OUR PLANET ITSELF

Stay by our site

turning to us in moments of crisis, uncertainty, solidarity and hope raises up for all humans.

we pray the wind stops

Help us help people

the "Guardian" Supports our efforts

today 3 of August in Athens. Our doctors are there

Out doctors settle a HUG POINT for fire victimes

SMS to all citizens NOW From the civil protection

our Volunteers on the ground of fire

on the ground, trying to save the animals

we have to face the fire without any equipment

no comments

happening now! fire burns houses and people

we fight fire with anything we have in hand

more and more houses are burning Tuesday 3 August

dealing with 3 huge fires in the city of Athens

It is happening now. Please stay by our site

just 30' minites later from my 1st shot!!!!

FIRE MAP of Athens

Our capital in fire. We pray that wind stops

Police stoped us to protect volunteers from fire

300 people blocked in burning houses

Links:

Permalink

Apr 6, 2021
HUG POINT FOR ALL FORGOTTEN FIRE VICTIMS

By Roumpini Terzaki | Project Developer

HUG POINT MATI AREA 1

MATI 2021

Dear friends,

The summer of 2021 will be the 3rd year of the catastrophic fire that completely destroyed the Mati area (next to N.Makri). In 2018, with your support, we founded a 'HUG POINT' in partnership with HUG 4YOUTH.

Today Kid & Family, is still supporting the last 15 families who were victims of the fire, people who lost their homes and their property, and some lost family members. These people are surviving, homeless and without any income and we are supporting them with much needed Psychological support and other essentials of life.

From our “HUG POINT” base in the area we have three volunteers who work from 8:00-20:00 six days a week from our 'store'. We continue to provide support to parents who lost their kids and kids who became orphans or single parent families, 48 kids and adults. We provide a place they can visit daily to receive free food and essential supplies, for example, hygiene products, masks and nutritional products and supplements. Volunteer Doctors and Therapists visit fire victims under request for C19, mental health and medicines needed.

It's hard to believe, after seeing such devastation, that it used to be a place where Athenians went to spend weekends. But there is hope, the ground is becoming green again - nature and HUG 4Youth is continuing to make a difference.

BACKGROUND

Under their shadow of trees, we started operating a 'HUG POINT' with our minivan carrying products and therapists every week to fulfil the needs of the community and to provide mental health care. For many people this was, and still is, indispensable.

During the Covid 19 Pandemic, we have had to make a permanent base in MATI because of the strict lockdown rules. For more than 18months it was practically impossible to reach the area, located 56km distance from the city. The one year lockdown in Greece has been imposed quickly, even in areas like MATI, N.Makri, Voutsas. Areas completely destroyed by the fire, and that have had 0 (zero) cases of Covid. Residents, victims of the fire, are trying to build up their lives, their homes and shops under the strict rule of lockdown.

In the last year there have been no Covid 19 cases, so we are hopeful that the area will get a 'permission of functioning.'

Currently, the national bank account, where money was raised to help families is blocked for reasons we can’t understand. This is in the moment that the country is going through a most difficult period after a whole year of restrictive lockdown measures that have levelled the economy and labour market. And, now the fire victims have received further devasting 'news' - an ultimatum to leave by the end of April 2021.

Ten days ago, exactly one day before the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the National Fair of liberation from Ottomans, the firefighters in Mati were confronted with an unpleasant "DECISION". According to the letter received from the army, the residents are called to leave the KAAY Motel in Agios Andreas.

In the following paragraph we have translated for you the letter that "expels" the Mati residents, (kick them out). This letter arrived with no stamp or signature:

"We know that more than two years have passed since the catastrophic fire of July 23, 2018 in the Mati, area of Attica. The Military Service has estimated that the support provided to the victims was extremely important, especially in the first period after the disaster. It is noted that the size of this offer exceeded any other similar action of the Service in the past, in the context of the Social Offer.

Following the above, it was decided that the residents of the Motels of KAAY Ag. Andrea, hand over the houses available to them, by the end of April at the latest.

Thank you for your cooperation, we remain at your disposal for any further information ".

This means our HUG point is more necessary than ever, as it is the only security remaining for the homeless kids and families who have all faced many devastating personal difficulties over the past 3 years since the fire.

Please see the following Media reports:

MEGA TV news - Fire victims declare the are becoming homeless under the new decision they must leave the camp site offered by the Greek army for Covid reasons. https://bit.ly/3mlCo8U
STAR TV news https://bit.ly/3uFEovN

OUR PLANS

A permanent HUG point for Fire victims.

It seems that the Government is not considering the needs of these families who are not even entitled to rent allowance. The families, of course, are asking for a short extension to stay because we are still in the midst of the Covid pandemic and lockdown.

We have motivated the residents to write a letter to our Prime Minister asking that he grant the request for a temporary extension to stay. Ultimately, a permanent solution will be decided by the Army or the Government.

We now need to get the H.U.G. point ready with all needed equipment as soon possible. We need to gain some time, until there is a permanent solution, for the residents who are still suffering as victims of this catastrophic fire.

OUR NEEDS

During Covid lockdown, it is difficult to keep up our door-to-door distributions and Doctors' visits. Whilst we wait for a Government decision we are struggling to keep our volunteers safe and in action during the Covid Pandemic. We need your help and support with the following:

We are struggling to find a base for the distribution of goods that can be permanently open, on a daily basis, from where victims of the fire can access the products they need free of charge.
We need to buy antiseptic, gloves, masks, sleeping bags and tents
We also urgently need a fast Laptop computer as a central server, easy to carry, so that we can maintain Therapist support online.

These are crucial needs for our volunteers and Doctors helping people every day. Please get involved. We are completely staffed by volunteers and have NO EMPLOYEES.

Please stay by our side, stay safe and share your humanity. For all people suffering on our Planet, for all kids and adults.

Warm regards.

MOTHER WHO LOST HER CHILDREN AT THE MEMORIAL

ORPHANED- AT THE MEMORIAL

BROKEN HEARTS

A MOTHER THROWS FLOWERS INTO THE SEA IN MEMORY

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE -FIRST TREES WITH GREEN LEAVES

GREEK PRESIDENT - MEMORIAL OF VICTIMS

Links:

Permalink

Dec 14, 2020
THIS CHRISTMAS HOMELESS-NATURAL DISASTERS VICTIMES

By Vicky Iglessi | Project Leader

17 years old volunteer packs gifts for kids

Dear friends and supporters,

"Mom, I want to sleep. To sleep forever," said Agni's little son, and he lost consciousness. It happened on July 23, 2018, during the wildfires in the town of Mati, east of Athens, after hours of struggle to stay alive.

On 23 July 2018, wildfires broke out in forests and villages across the Attica Region of southern Greece, primarily in areas surrounding Athens. 100 people were confirmed dead and more than 600 injured. 700 people were rescued by the coast guard and the navy after fleeing to beaches to escape the flames. Residents in the coastal region in western Attica were requested to abandon their homes, and hundreds of people were evacuated. Almost 94% of the cities in Rafina and Marathonas were affected by wildfires and it is estimated that more than 4,000 people were affected in total, with about 3,200 hectares burned, including forests, residential areas, playgrounds, and significant social infrastructure. Around 3,236 homes were damaged in the fires, with about one third of them (908 categorized as “red”) assessed as irreparable by the Ministry of Infrastructure. In addition, electricity and water networks also suffered severe damage and were significantly disrupted for a long period.

After 2 years many are struggling to rebuild their homes. Others struggle to cure the scars on their bodies from burns. Others fight to live without those they lost. Mati became a source of pain and solidarity. A sourceof courage and sacrifice.

Kids & Family is still helping these families to survive through a mobile HELP STATION 12h/day. It offers on-site medical care, psychological assistance, food, clothing, essentials, toolboxes, internet access, mobile phones, etc. In addition, the organization also organizes activities for children and provides social support. It also develops solidarity and public awareness actions.

Children, teenagers and youngsters have not left those moments behind them… they still remember. What influenced and hurt them most was not the fire, the swimming in the darkness, the shortness of breath, the fear. It was the image of their crying parents, being scared, bending, aggressive with each other, isolated, not being able to tell them, "here I am"!

We need your support, in order to relief these families. Social solidarity functions in multiple levels, since it cultivates human sympathy and sensitivity, cares for vulnerable people and strengthens their dignity, contributes to the creation of just social structures and promotes the common good of society.

Kids & Family, during this enormously difficult period for kids and youngsters, undertakes initiatives in order to protect their life as well as their wellbeing. We offer food in school, that according to a survey that we contacted in cooperation with Panteion University (Athens), in order to prevent the affects of hunger to mental and physical health.

They say that children are our future. We say that children can only change the future if adults take care of the present!!!. So, future is NOW.

Kid & Family can only achieve its goals with the help of generous donations from supporters and community members. With their support we are confident that our decision to establish Kid & Family is justified every day and proves to be the most appropriate to face all contemporary challenges. Economic crisis its effects does not only activate mechanisms of adaptation, but also evolution. Thus, new horizons are opened in the implementation of actions that have a direct or indirect positive imprint on society.

Are you willing to donate any amount to help us reach our goal?

◊ Every donation makes a difference and takes us one step closer to building a better community. All amounts are tax deductible in your country. Use GlobalGiving receipt. Ιf you visit Greece please contact us, so you rent our airbnb in the historical center of Athens, in a luxury flat next to the Acropolis, at a very attractive price.

◊ Come as a volunteer! We offer you a beautiful independent room during your stay.

◊ Become a distance-volunteer by posting on your social media pages our GlobalGiving projects:

goto.gg/1520 Kids in hunger in Greece

goto.gg/28123 Kids with mental disorders

goto.gg/22577 Refugee kids

goto.gg/34750 kids fire victims

◊. Dedicate this years’ Thanksgiving (2020) a monthly fee to help our causes. A stable though small help gives as the ability and security to help our children in need.

◊. Dedicate a dinner or any festive day with your friends and families to our causes, invite friends to support these efforts and send us your help on GlobalGiving.

We kindly ask you to stay by our side and support our vision, by spreading the news and creating a strong network of supporters and donators for the people in need. United we can do the impossible.

Stay in touch and please remember that every end is a new beginning …with your help!

Thank you in advance for your support!

Cordially

Permalink

1 2 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.