Hypothermia is killing refugees

Since we left Lesvos, there have been storms and many tents in the camp blew down. This was followed by rain and then by snow. Hypothermia is a major problem.

We receive reports form volunteers still on the island and here is one received today.

Between 7.30 and 8.00 am, a rescuers' boat brought to the port of Skala, a 3-4 year old boy with his father. The boy was unconscious and had abnormal skin color and the father was in a state of collapse. Volunteers saw the boy in the hands of a group of organization members, asked if any help was needed and received a negative response. They brought the boy to the community clinic at the port which was found locked. The door was forced open by a resident of the village, who was nearby and the boy was brought inside the clinic in order to diagnose his condition. Soon after, it was announced that the boy arrived dead at the harbor, and the possible cause of death was hypothermia.

Much later, an ambulance arrived at Skala to collect the body. It should be noted that, the rest of the family members were brought to the port of Petra (several kilometres north of Skala) by a boat of the port authority.

An hour earlier a Frontex vessel brought to the port of Scala a group of children and women who seemed to have been collected from within the sea (wet to the bone). Among them was a 35-40 year old woman with obvious signs of hypothermia. She was moved to the community clinic at the harbor from where her death was announced later.

The remaining refugees were not allowed to go to Platanos, which is a common practice for their reception and care, due to the intervention of a group of port authority officials who ordered that no one was allowed to leave the point until the registration process of all was complete.

I repeat all this could be avoided if the registration took place at a port of embarkation in Turkey. Surely the EU could set up an embassy.