Just for the Price of a Coffee ...

Hello Friends, 
I just received an email from Charmaine Craig.  She is helping Syrian war refugee families and was already several months in 2015 and 2016 in Greece.  Now she volunteers in one of the huge refugee camps in Lebanon. In my eyes, this Canadian lady is a saint...

My pledge to you is this:  Instead of a large daily coffee, order a small one 

and with $36 help a family who is a victim of this murderous war.

"Happy New Year from the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon!!!
Most of us wish for a happy, healthy and prosperous year and it is ever more important here. Syrian families displaced by war wish for peace and wonder about when the day comes that the war is over if they will have a place to go back to."

"Families live in abject poverty here in the Beqaa Valley.
They have barely enough food to survive let alone for proper nutrition.  And, children run around in sandals and light jackets when it is freezing outside.  So many children and elderly will end up sick this winter. 

There are over 1400 informal settlement camps scattered on farmer fields throughout the valley.  Not every settlement receives aid. A lot of NGO's will not work here due to safety concerns.  Here at Salam LADC we try to reach the most vulnerable.  We have done many distributions in my short time here and the relief and joy it brings to the people is very gratifying. 

We provide food bags with enough staples for one month for each family and heating fuel to help keep them warm.  We distribute clothes by providing pop-up stores where we set up racks and bins of clothing so that the people can choose for themselves what they would like. This is such a dignified way to provide clothing."

Charmaine wrote:  "I am very happy to work with Salam LADC. I can see they do so much good here with their projects. But as they are a small grassroots NGO their funding is provided by us, the volunteers, and our networks.

I would like to fund at least one of the distributions of food and heating fuel. The cost of the food parcel is $25 and 4 gallons of heating fuel is $11 (all American funds).  For the price of a coffee, you can help me help. 

Friends, we can provide comfort and hope and with your donation families will be provided food and warmth."

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Read more here - and follow Charmaine on Facebook:
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Donate to my GoFundMe Winter 2016 Campaign
https://www.gofundme.com/bekindtorefugeeswinter2016

Be Kind to Refugees Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/bekindtorefugees/


Addendum:When I was here in Lebanon, last May, there were 1400 informal settlements. Now, there are an estimated 2050. More and more families have left Syria since the Siege on Aleppo and Lebanon has decided they are no longer permitted to register as refugees which mean: less aid.
I would like to fund at least one distribution of food and heating fuel for an entire settlement camp. The cost of the food parcel for one family for one month is $25 and 4 gallons of heating fuel is $11 (US funds). For the price of a coffee per day, you can help me help keep a family warm and fed this winter.

Thank you for your support!
Love Charmaine

Criminalizing the Provisions of Basic Human Rights in Europe

Can you imagine to cross the Mediterranean,
standing with 50 others in such a boat? 

Can you imagine your land is in war, your schools, hospitals, offices and your own house is bombed, several family members are killed?  After five years of war, when there is no end of death and no survival - what would you do?  Flee or patiently await certain death?  I assume 99% would flee... 
And exactly this happens in Syria and other countries.  War refugees cannot just board a plane.  They have to find a way to get out of the country, maybe following friends or family who are already safe in another European country.  As they do not have a car, and have to cross the Mediterranean Sea, they give their lives - and their money - into the hands of smugglers who promise them a boat journey to the next European island.  More than 3,000 war refugees drowned in the last year when unsafe and overcrowded boats capsized.
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Basic Humanity
For a long time volunteers helped those who arrived alive at the shores - while governments and even the Red Cross were merely absent.  In Greece in 2015, and especially in the North Aegean, we saw an amazing wave of solidarity among Greek citizens and foreigners working together to help to manage the huge wave of refugees arriving on the shores.  In recent days in the Greek islands we are seeing things change as paranoia emerges along with cries to “control” the volunteers and the NGOs.
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Criminalization of Volunteers

Green European Journal reports: "Fishermen who rescue refugees from the sea and certain death can be charged with aiding illegal immigration. Volunteers who cook in public spaces can be charged for not having secured public health permits.

Volunteer doctors can be charged with working in Greece without having their licenses to be reviewed and approved by the national government. Volunteers who pitch tents in public spaces can be charged with violating laws forbidding camping in public spaces.  Volunteers who help to change the wet clothes of shivering children might be charged with molesting them.

Photographers could be charged with violating military space on the coastlines.  Those who donate food, clothing, and other supplies could be charged for not providing receipts.  And finally, volunteers choosing to work in small groups without large donor bases, high overhead, bank accounts, and tax numbers can be prohibited from offering to help."  

It is just insane...

."Instead of looking for ways to deter the volunteers, the Greek and European Union authorities ought to consider the illegality of their own activities.  They are required by European law to offer asylum to refugees of war.  Is it ethical to close the Schengen borders?  Why blame the volunteers or to imagine that the refugees will stop coming if there are no volunteers to meet them."

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