Europe Refugee Crisis

Emergency humanitarian assistance provided to refugees arriving on the

Greek Island of Lesvos - a joint initiative under the banner, Zainabiyya Alliance
for Refugees (ZAR)

Report prepared:

MAY 2016

Wood Lane | Stanmore, Middlesex UK HA7 4LQ

www.world-federation.org
relief@world-federation.org
Registered Charity in the UK, No. 282303

EUROPE REFUGEE CRISIS | REPORT

OVERVIEW
Between January 2015 and April 2016, almost 1.2
million refugees fled to Europe on unseaworthy
boats and dinghies across the Mediterranean
Sea. Over half of these refugees were women and
children. In 2016 alone, more than 1,300 refugees
have died or are missing. Many of these civillians
are fleeing war, violence and persecution in their
countries of origin. Europe has been suffering
from the worst refugee crisis since World War II.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR), the top three nationalities
of the Mediterranean Sea arrivals since the
beginning of 2016 are Syrian (43%), Afghan (23%)
and Iraqi (14%).
The Greek Islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos,
Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Rhodes, and Symi have
seen a large influx of people arriving by boat,
putting a great deal of pressure on the land, the
locals, the economy and the environment. They

left their homes with only the clothes on their backs

with the hope that they would be welcomed with
open arms. However, upon landing on the shores
of Europe, these families are quickly learning that
their hardships are far from over.
As families disembark from their boats, they need
food, clean water, dry clothes, sanitation facilities
and other basic necessities. They also need
moral support, guidance, compassion and an
understanding heart as they come to a new land.
Whilst there are some individuals and organisations
in Greece providing these needs to the people,
much more needs to be done at a greater level to
better manage this refugee crisis and find smart
solutions to resolve this global situation.

EUROPE REFUGEE CRISIS | REPORT

WHO IS ZAINABIYYA ALLIANCE
FOR REFUGEES (ZAR)?
In December 2015, The World Federation joined
The Council of European Jamaats, Imamia Medics
International, Islamic Centre of England, The Imam
Hussein Foundation and Majlis Ulema Europe to
form ZAINABIYYA ALLIANCE FOR REFUGEES
(ZAR) to lead a second trip to Greece to assist
refugees arriving on Europes shores by sending
volunteers and aid to different areas, starting with
the Island of Lesvos.

EUROPE REFUGEE CRISIS APPEAL

The EUROPE REFUGEE CRISIS APPEAL aims to
raise funds to deliver urgently needed humanitarian
aid to the thousands of refugees seeking asylum
in Europe. Our volunteers have been working
tirelessly in Lesvos, Greece alongside other
volunteers since October 2015 to provide direct
help to refugees as they arrive by boat.

SUMMARY OF EXPENSES
EUROPE REFUGEE CRISIS - LESVOS MISSION
DEC 2015 - APRIL 2016
DESCRIPTION

TOTAL (GBP)

Aid Distribution to Refugees

(including water bottles, blankets, baby formula)

10,980.65

Volunteer Equipment & Supplies

(including radios, walkie talkies, flashlights, high visibility jackets)

1,220.70

Volunteer - Transportation, Accommodation Subsidy & Meals

4,582.85

Volunteer - Travel Cost Subsidy

6,946.98

Marketing

261
TOTAL COST

THE 4 Cs WE WORK BY ARE COMMUNICATE,

COMPASSION, CONNECT.

23,992.18

COORDINATE,

HASAN POOYA, ZAR COORDINATOR

EUROPE REFUGEE CRISIS | REPORT

OUR WORK, OUR ACHIEVMENTS
SINCE DECEMBER 2015:
Zainabiyya Alliance for Refugees (ZAR) sent its
first team of volunteers to Lesvos on 4th December
2015. Our guiding philosopy was that the refugee
crisis in Europe was a humanitarian emergency
which Europe had not seen in decades and one
we anticipated would have a huge impact on
European Muslims; as a result, we felt we had a
moral and civic responsibility to help manage the
situation in whatever way we could.
ZAR chose to work in Lesvos becasuse this was the
geographical frontline where 60% of the refugees
were arriving in Europe. ZARs objectives were to:
Provide humanitarian assistance to refugees;
Work side by side with other volunteers of
different faiths and backgrounds to build bridges
of friendship and unity;
Enhance our communitys capacity to manage
challenging situations with the aim of overcoming
ethnic divisions, working towards a common
goal, and spreading the teachings of the Ahlul
Bayt (as) in practice rather than by words.
We work with people of all ethnicities, faiths
and sects to help in every way we can without
discrimination.

WE ARE THANKFUL TO GOD WHO

ALLOWED US TO SERVE &
ACHIEVE OUR GOALS DESPITE
MANY CHALLENGES. THRU
OUR MIX OF ARABIC, FARSI & URDU
SPEAKING VOLUNTEERS &
MEDICS WE STAND HERE TODAY
HAVING ACHIEVED THE
FOLLOWING:
ZAR is the only Muslim organisation with a long
term presence on the island;
ZAR is the only Muslim organisation allowed
access into Moira Camp which is central to all
refugee activity on the island;
ZAR is the only organisation working directly
with UNHCR to assist with assessment and
follow-up of vulnerable cases (medical and
psychological issues, missing persons,
advocacy for fast track asylum and mediation;
ZAR is the only volunteer organisation working
as protection officers and mediators with
government authorities to maintain peace and
harmony in the camp and to ensure that the
rights of refugees are protected - there are
many cases of protests, discrimination, ethnic
grouping and fights that take place in the camp
which require daily vigilance and intervention;
ZAR has provided other humanitarian aid
including food, water, tents, medical treatment,
blankets, translation services, assistance with
boat landings and burial support.

32,640
bottles of
water & milk
distributed

101

tents provided for

refugees sleeping
on the ground

EUROPE REFUGEE CRISIS | REPORT

THE WORLD FEDERATIONS HEAD
OF RELIEF VISITS LESVOS
At the end of April 2016, The World Federations
Head of Relief, Br. Mahmood Dhala visited Lesvos
to see first-hand the work taking place on behalf of
ZAR. He quotes:
After arriving in Lesvos, I toured the Island and
visited the various hot spots where countless boats
carrying refugees landed. My first impression was
one of disbelief where todays empty beaches
made it impossible to picture the sheer number
of refugees that landed on these shores over the
past year and a half. Even the rubber boats and life
jackets they arrived in were nowhere to be seen
as gypsies cleared them from the shores to make
a profit.
On the other hand, it was a major jolt and a reality
check when I saw first-hand the plight of the Muslim
refugees in one of the camp.s They were helpless
and unsure of where their future lied; many did not
even know where their loved ones were.
Although it was just the start of May, temperatures
on the day were hitting the mid-twenties (Celsius)
and it was evident that these refugees were now
sheltering themselves from the hot sun when not
long ago they had braved the harsh winter to make
the challenging journey into Europe.
The most moving part of my visit was witnessing
the high-impacting activities of the ZAR team.
Alhamdulillah, in the 7 months that we have been
in Lesvos, the relationships we have built with the
UNHCR, the camp manager and local authorities
has been so valuable that ZAR is the only Muslim
(let alone Shia) organisation that is officially
allowed to be present in the various camps.
The close working relationship between ZAR, the
UNHCR and other NGOs has resulted in us working
hand in hand to meet the various challenges - be
it legal help, assistance of vulnerable cases or

camp logistics. Thanks to their wide range of skills

including language, ZAR volunteers have played
an instrumental role in the relief and aid efforts
on the Island. Alhamdulillah, credit goes to all the
ZAR volunteers for giving their valuable time and
passion in raising the ZAR flag in order to provide
assistance on the ground. While their true reward
lies with the Almighty, we pray to Him to grant each
one of these selfless men and women goodness in
this world and goodness in the Hereafter - Ameen

EUROPE REFUGEE CRISIS | REPORT

VOLUNTEER REFLECTIONS
Cases range from psychological trauma, frostbite,
hypothermia, single women and children travelling
alone, pregnant women requiring help, missing
and separated families, people with pre-existing
medical conditions requiring medical assistance,
people without money, burials or people just
seeking advice, guidance or assistance with
housing needs. The list goes on.
We have been busy assisting with boat landings
and had to help in the burial of an unidentifed male
found over 30 days ago. The reality of a fellow
human losing their life without loved ones present
or even aware of their death is difficult. Volunteers
do their best to help give the deceased a burial any
family would desire for their relative.
We worked on a case handed to us by the UNHCR
of an Afghan boy with an acute learning disability
and epilepsy who was abandoned by his family.
Other cases are related to refugees being short of
money, providing general advice and supporting
women who are travelling alone with children.
The medical camp is warm and welcoming
(physically and emotionally). Playground games
are organised outside the clinic to make the
children happy amid all their struggles and chaos.
Translators are helping families communicate
with local authorities. I wish I could speak Arabic
or Farsi. Nonetheless, I use my Urdu skills as
there are Pakistani and Afghani people who need
translators as well.
We have have been busy cleaning out huts
normally packed with refugees. This is strenuous
work bearing in mind the sheer volume of people
housed here along with blankets, tents and other
goods that come with them. The huts have to be
stripped of everything, swept and cleaned. We
decided it would serve as a two way benefit to
enlist the help of refugees in the clean-up who
were ready and willing to help and felt a sense of
purpose.

EUROPE REFUGEE CRISIS | REPORT

ZAR VOLUNTEERS
Our volunteers form the backbone of our
humanitarian presence in Lesvos and ZAR
extends its heartfelt appreciation to the individuals
who have selflessly offered their time, skills and
resources to travel to Greece to provide vital
support as part of our mission.
ZAR volunteers come from the United Kingdom,
USA, Canada, Sweden, Germany, France, Egypt,
and Algeria. These individuals are compassionate,
strong, flexible, hard working, able to manage
difficult situations, have strong people skills and
are able to adapt to their changing environment
whilst in Lesvos.

Volunteer Team
Mehdi Abedian

Shahjahan F. Khan

Imad al-Fadili

Raza Lakhani

Aliya Abidi

Eslam al Soudani
Salahdin Ali

Habib Andani

Eva Anderson

May Abdel Asim

Haider Azam

Mandeep Bahia
Mandeep Bahia

Leisha Beardmore
Hanan Belarbi

Linnea Berglund

Mojtaba Chaberei
Samina Chopra
Nefeli Gazis

Humaira Ghiazada
Dr. Zulfikar Haider
Dr. Fatima Husain
Dr. Zia Hussain
Shakir Ibrahim

Fatimah Jessa
Fatimah Jeraj

Mohammad Jiyad
Kavita Kapoor

Ahmad Kazzaz
Farrakh Kazmi
Dr. Kerry

Nour Khabbaz
Kaleem Khan

Dr. Umar Khan

Myrium Mabrook

Leon Ehsan Mahmoodi

Dr. Safana Makhdoom
Nofel Neil Mehdi

Bassant Menshawy
Shana Momin
Ali Mousawi

Nada Mousawi

Madiha Raza Panjwani

Nikhat Panjwani

Weaam Janan Potros

Shamim Rahemani

Hussein Rahemtulla
Shakir Rahemtulla
Asad Rashi

Rianna Russell
Jasamin Saifi

Annie Shamsie
Sitara Siddiqi

Sufianne Tchikou

Sami Ahmed Tertar

Karin Tornell
Shiraz Walji
Zehra Walji

Moritz Wolff

Mona Mahrukh Yusuf

EUROPE REFUGEE CRISIS | REPORT

Thank You
Our humanitarian mission to Greece is
all about extending help to the masses
of refugees seeking asylum from a life of
persectuion and violence.
Imam Husayn (as) said: Indeed, the
opportunity to be able to fulfil the needs of
people is amongst Gods blessings to you, so
do not be resentful for these blessings.
Thank you for supporting the Europe Refugee
Crisis Appeal.