Mayo nurse issues appeal for help in providing emergency care to unaccompanied children in crisis-hit Lesbos

A member of the nursing staff of Mayo University Hospital has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the emergency care of unaccompanied children at the crisis-hit Moria Refugee Camp in Lesbos, Greece.

Elena Lydon has finished one year as a nurse in the camp and is returning for another year to provide healthcare and emotional support to hundreds of unaccompanied children.

The Castlebar woman said unaccompanied minors have arrived in the camp without any family members and are trying to survive alone.

In her appeal, she outlined: “As winter is approaching I need your support to provide extra food, blankets, tents and medical supplies.

“I know that it's been a difficult time for everyone but, if you can spare a few euro, help me to support the children."

Elena has also raised €5,639 to date.

The link to the page is: https://gf.me/u/yusyub

“Thank you to everyone for your support. I really appreciate your help and kindness.”

Elena has been sharing regular updates on her Facebook page on the crisis in Lesbos following the devastating fire outbreak last Tuesday.

RTÉ News has been covering the story on its daily television news bulletins.

An Irish doctor based on the Greek island described the fire at the overcrowded refugee camp of Moria as "absolutely catastrophic."

Speaking to RTÉ, Dr. Claire Dunne, from Co Laois, said the blaze has caused the biggest humanitarian crisis that the island has faced in living memory.

Fire broke out in more than three places in a short space of time overnight and quickly ripped through the camp, burning tents and belongings.

"People were forced to flee with what few possessions they could carry in the middle of the night. They ran from the fire for their lives into the hills [and] into the forest," she said.

Crowds of people moved towards the nearest town of Mytilene but were stopped from entering by police, said Dr. Dunne, who has been working on the island since May 2019.

Last week the camp was placed under quarantine after a Somali migrant tested positive for the coronavirus. Thirty-five people have since been infected.

She said that migrants spent the night sleeping in front of a line of authorities without access to food, water and blankets as they had nowhere else to go.

Around 12,000 asylum seekers, who are fleeing war and persecution, are now essentially sleeping on these streets, she said.

"There are 4,000 children, 400 unaccompanied children, many people living in the camp who are high risk for complications if they got coronavirus and who are now essentially homeless," she added.

Dr. Dunne called on Ireland and other European countries to help relocate those affected "in a show of solidarity."