IAF Presents Program On Refugees And Coronavirus

The International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College is hosting a virtual presentation April 27. “COVID-19 from a Refugee Perspective: Voices from Lesvos Camps” will take place 4-5pm via Zoom. The Greek island of Lesvos hosts more than 20,000 refugees in the Moria camp, many of whom are living without shelter. News of a confirmed case of COVID-19 has sparked fears of an outbreak at the overcrowded refugee camp, which has little medical care.
 
Zoe and Talia Gerstle of Traverse City spent three months working in the camps on Lesvos two years ago. They will be leading the discussion along with Aesa Oso, a humanitarian worker and interpreter. As a refugee from the Syrian War, he lived in the camps on Lesvos and subsequently worked there as a site management assistant. Today he lives in Malta in the Mediterranean Sea.
 
A report in the Guardian noted that anger has grown over continuing growth of the camp as migrants arrive by sea. Parts of the camp, including warehouses storing food and a school set up by volunteers, were destroyed in fires. Doctors and journalists have been attacked by vigilantes. The presenters will be able to give those in virtual attendance a first-hand view of this global hot spot as they discuss the current crisis on Lesvos. Click here for details or call 231-995-1944.