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Afghan refugees find safety and shelter in Athens park

Athenians have joined forces to aid the Afghan refugees sheltering in Athens’ largest public park.

Afghan refugees in Greece/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Refugees and volunteers clean the pathways of the camp. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
By Dimitris Sideridis
Published On 10 Aug 201510 Aug 2015
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Athens, Greece – Pedion tou Areos, one of the largest public parks in Athens, has become a makeshift campground for refugees. Nearly 450 Afghan refugees, most of them women and children, are sheltering in the park, having set up tents among the lush green bushes and thick-trunked palms. 

The families have paid about $1,000 – $3,000 per person for a seat on a dilapidated boat travelling from Turkey to the Greek Islands across the Aegean Sea in pursuit of a better life. 

Most of the refugees who arrive in Greece want to continue their journey north, to Sweden, the United Kingdom or Germany, where they have relatives or hope to find better opportunities. 

Numerous non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and many Athenians have come forward to help provide aid for the refugees in the park, which includes basic commodities such as food, water, clothing, and medicine.

The Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention has set up mobile units manned by doctors, healthcare workers and psychologists to ensure the refugees have access to healthcare facilities while living in the park.

The municipality of Athens will help accommodate the refugees in the park until there is a more appropriate place to host them. Preparations are under way in Elaionas, an area west of Athens where the authorities plan to relocate and house the refugees, according to official statements.

 

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During their stay at the camp in Pedio tou Areos park, refugees can get a check-up at the health station set up by Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which is open daily. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
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A newly arrived Afghan family sets up their tent in the park. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
Afghan refugees in Greece/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
The tents used by the refugees were donated by volunteers and local NGOs. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
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The local community donated clothes to be distributed to the refugees at the park. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
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The municipality of Athens is trying to maintain basic hygiene conditions until the refugees are relocated to Elaionas camp which is under construction. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
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There number of refugees living at the camp at Pedio tou Areos remains constant, with those deciding to continue the journey elsewhere being replaced by new daily arrivals. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
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Shaker, 38, is an engineer from Afghanistan. He came from Iran, through Turkey and the Greek island of Mytilene, with his wife and three children. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
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An Afghan youth, with all of his belongings in just one backpack, prepares to move on to his next destination. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
Afghan refugees in Greece/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Saed Ahmad Hashemi, 26, left his family in Afghanistan to find a better future in Germany. He is a new arrival at the camp, along with two of his friends. They have yet to receive tents. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
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The conditions at the camp are very basic, but people manage to take care of their everyday needs. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
Afghan refugees in Greece/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Volunteers and NGOs gather donations for the refugees at a specially designated station. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
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Volunteers hand out food packages donated by locals. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]
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Preparations are under way in Elaionas, an area west of Athens where the authorities plan to relocate and house the refugees. [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]


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