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WHILE on a holiday to a Greek island, a Tathra woman started working to support refugees arriving to the island by boat.
Vesna Andric was visiting the island of Leros when, walking to a port, she saw a large crowd of people.
She tried to take photos of them but police said she could not.
They asked if she was a member of an aid organisation and she said while she was not, that was a great idea.
The police pointed out a group of young aid workers and after Ms Andric introduced herself to them they took her to “The Villa” – a secure house next to a hospital where a lucky number refugees had the chance to eat, clean and rest.
Since then, she has been working independently but cooperating with people from the Leros Solidarity Network and a Dutch group called the Boat Refugee Foundation.
“There’s also an island not too far off in which conditions are so bad there are not enough body bags for the dead."
- Vesna Andric
On one of the first nights she worked on the island, 350 refugees arrived – although a number of them died on the sea.
The next night, 800 more arrived.
“There’s also an island not too far off in which conditions are so bad there are not enough body bags for the dead,” Ms Andric said.
The refugees – most of which come from Syria – are mainly fleeing from war.
Ms Andric said one day an older woman made hand motions and sounds mimicking falling bombs and machine guns.
In June, the UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights reported over 3000 people had been killed by Islamic State (formerly ISIS) in Syria from June 2014 to the same month this year, including 1787 civilians with 74 of them children.
The observatory also documented the deaths of 162 civilians, including 51 children, among the almost 3000 people killed in airstrikes on Syria by the US-led coalition.
“[Recently] a woman named Nadia told me her home would be pelted with rocks from the bomb blasts and that it's not safe and there is no future,” Ms Andric said.
“She told me she wanted to go to Australia, but heard we did not like refugees.
“I replied it was not true - there are some who are sympathetic and of course, as in all countries, some who do not understand.”
News has reached Leros of the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris where 129 people were killed.
While Ms Andric had not spoken to refugees about the issue, volunteers at The Villa were concerned of the effect it would have on the world’s perception of refugees.
“The response among volunteers has been one of concern that the attacks will further polarize refugees and cause countries to refuse support and entry for fears terrorists are among them,” she said.
Ms Andric will be working on Leros until November 24.
She said you can support refugees on the island by sending money to an account called Refugee Relief, with a of BSB 112879 and the account number is 410543770.
The money is spent at The Villa to buy extras that the aid agencies cannot afford, such as cough syrups and small survival packs.
Hope remains despite the circumstances
WHEN she first started helping the refugees, Vesna Andric said they were distressed and felt hopeless.
“When I've met them they have just arrived and are exhausted and wet; women, children and men with poor clothing, no luggage, some no shoes,” she said.
“The camp here is in gross condition; people sleep on cardboard mats and the stench from the limited portable toilets is uncomfortable.”
Many sleep outdoors on concrete or the dirt ground and as winter was arriving Ms Andric thought the temperature would hit the refugees hard.
However, she said the camaraderie between refugees was extraordinary, as they cared for each other and shared their meager supplies.
“I have photos of a baby, maybe one-year-old, kissing a sick six-month-old to sooth him,” she said.
“The children collect clothes for each other, hold one another and there are some fun little boys that peg soccer balls at each other too - but it looks like they are enjoying it!”
Also, she said the longer she spent on the island the more she saw expressions of hope.
For instance, some young men had their papers cleared so were waiting for a boat, singing together, while Ms Andric said parents had started to encourage their children to say hello to her and introduce them.