More than 11 million people have been displaced by the conflict in Syria, and since the start of 2015 over 800,000 refugees have crossed the Mediterranean to seek safety and shelter in European countries. Many arrive in Greece and are in desperate need of emergency aid.
The Syrian conflict is the largest humanitarian disaster of modern times. More than 240,000 people have been killed and over 11 million displaced. Each day, thousands flee the war zone in search of safety in Europe.
Every day, an estimated 5,000 refugees are undertaking perilous sea journeys in their search for refuge and putting their lives in the hands of human traffickers. More than 2,500 refugees have died or gone missing this summer.
Those who survive the voyage are often in poor health and in desperate need of emergency aid. It includes children, pregnant women, mothers with new-borns, the disabled and the elderly.
On the Greek island of Lesvos, the number of refugee arrivals during October 2015 was about 125,000 – double that of August. Each and every one is in urgent need of assistance.