Category: Articles

On the Greek island of Lesvos, community volunteers are integral to A Drop in the Ocean’s work in Kara Tepe camp.

On International Women’s Day we want to challenge Norway and the rest of Europe to a greater extent take responsibility for and show that the UN resolutions and European conventions regarding women’s rights during and after war and conflict, also applies to women in Greek refugee camps.

Norwegian artist, poet and song writer Trygve Skaug has raised millions of kroners for A Drop in the Ocean in 2020. In 2021, he continues to support our work for displaced persons.

As we enter a new year, we want to take a minute looking back at the year that past. A year full of challenges where the Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on how we socialise and live our lives. It has been a difficult year; many have lost their jobs and are facing uncertain times. And for the many thousands displaced persons in Greece, the situation became, if possible, even worse.

Michelle Reece from Canada has been a volunteer field worker for A Drop in the Ocean. Read about her experiences and meetings with resilient women in our Women and Babies Space on Lesvos.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are now around 8,500 displaced persons. The challenges in the Bosnian refugee camps are many and the conditions for those who live there are difficult. In addition, around 3,000 people live outside the official camp, in the forest, in abandoned buildings and other public spaces.

A Drop in the Ocean supports people in Skaramagas Refugee Camp with essential articles such as clothes and hygiene items. Twice a year we arrange for a large distribution reaching every person in the camp. Depending on needs, we also arrange for additional distributions, particularly for new arrivals.

Under the programme Active Citizens Fund – Greece and the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, a Training Workshop took place in Athens, on 24 September 2020 between Dråpen i Havet and the Greek Council for Refugees.

A Drop in the Ocean are now restarting recruitment of volunteer field workers to Lesvos. We will work in the new temporary refugee camp, Kara Tepe, and are currently in the process of implementing new projects there.

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning on the 9th of September, Moria Refugee Camp on Lesvos burned down. The Greek Government confirms that no deaths are reported, but 13 000 displaced persons are now without a roof over their head and have lost what little they had. Lesvos must be evacuated now!