15 December 2015 | Ljubljana, Slovenia [Victor Hulbert with Urška Čehovin] News broadcasts are full of their stories. While politicians struggle, while winter sets in, and while some boarders close, others cannot just stand by.
He volunteers work three times per week for 12 hours. “We do it in shifts, which means you work one week during the day and one week during the night.” He explains that every day is different and that he does actually experience a lot of beautiful things, but then adds, “Some days are just shocking. And those shocks stay with you for a while.”
They met another Syrian family who left for Egypt two years ago. Their father was a civil engineer but could not find work. In desperation, they decided to head to Europe. They are at least together as a family. They have hope. They want to build a new life in Germany. Surrounded by his family, he turns to the girl next to him and explains, “This is my love. We have been happy together for the last two years. We’re waiting for our whole family to be safe in one place and then we will get married.”
By the end of November, 280,940 refugees have entered Slovenia this year. They are still coming despite the winter weather. Almost half of them pass through Brežice – Dobova, the area where ADRA Slovenia is concentrating its efforts. Here they collect and sort in-kind donations, with hygiene products and baby products being a high priority. ADRA Slovenia has a primary responsibility for taking care of refugees at the train station in Dobova, where most refugees enter Slovenia and are registered.
Their volunteers and coordinators still deliver and distribute basic supplies to around 3,000 refugees per shift although the numbers of refugees are reducing due to the winter weather. The last two weeks in November saw them care for 30,464 refugees by providing basic humanitarian supplies. That was a total of 110,000 refugees in October and November. Despite winter weather that number appears to again be on the increase.
Like other ADRA offices around Europe, ADRA Slovenia is also a donor office, providing support to Greece and Serbia. They are just one of the many ADRA offices and other humanitarian groups providing help in Lesbos, Greece, Dunkirk and Calais in France, and almost everywhere in-between.
To find out more, visit your national ADRA office website or donate on the ADRA Emergency Fund webpage.
To see more photos, please click here. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, director; Deana Stojković, editor
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