Wake Up Europe. Wake Up Europe

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1 Wake Up Europe Wake Up Europe Volunteers are helping thousands of refugees who are stranded in Greece, because the other Balkan countries on the European refugee trail are unrelenting about being the protectors of the European Union against refugees, mostly families and children. Various political interests of various involved parties are hindering the possibility of coming to a solution of this migrant and refugee crisis. We are witnessing human rights being trampled, people being left to themselves and we stand almost helpless in face of their suffering, crying, hungry and loneliness. Who can hear? Who cares about them? Whose problem are they? Volunteers in the refugee camp in Sl. Brod Our volunteers are still tirelessly working, trying to help meet the needs of these people. Our capacities are limited, but our faith and the desire to help these people are great. We are trying to meet the needs of thousands of people, the majority of who are women and children. The situation has changed drastically. Some of the reasons for the chaos in Greece and FYR Macedonia are the political situations both in Turkey, which is interested in getting money and the abolition of the visa regime for Turkish citizens in Europe, and in Germany, which is preparing for elections this year. Those, and many more reasons, have severely slowed down the migrant and refugee wave on the Balkan route. There is an opinion that this is just the calm before the storm. Syrian mother with her child travelling in search of a better life.

2 Refugees in the mud, and Europe without a solution. As UNHCR reports, human misery is at its peak in the refugee camp in Idomena, Greece. Tents are flooded; there is a shortage of drinking water, and a severe shortage of food. WHO is giving out warnings about the first recorded infection with Hepatitis A virus. They are calling for a quick intervention; otherwise we will be faced with a humanitarian catastrophe. Volunteer from Bosnia and Herzegovina working in the camp in Sl. Brod Forced to run from their homes due to war, refugees are coming to the door of Europe, which is deeply divided in its views of this crisis. The open-door policy, which Europe showed in the beginning, quickly turned into a closeddoor and wire-fences policy. However, our volunteers did not stand helpless in the face of this, but rather, joined volunteers from other organizations, and citizens of Croatia, and went to the streets for a peaceful protest. While walking peacefully and quietly through the streets they wanted to draw attention to the human rights of refugees, and to criticize the closed-door policy of some European countries. This event got a lot of media coverage. It was a voice to Europe to wake up and take the responsibility; to do what needs to be done. This is the right time for Europe to be an idealist, and to put in practice its democratic values and its focus on human dignity and equality. This is not the time to close borders and to strengthen radical conservative political parties which is what is happening. Our voice needs to be stronger and louder, so that justice could be heard and help could be given to the marginalized.

3 Some analysts are saying that Europe is being put to a test. Some people believe it is going to fail, but I disagree. I believe Europe is now in a holy place. Its decisions to do good will determine its future path, and I believe it is ready make those good decisions. Protests against closing of borders A large number of people came to give support to refugees and migrants and to fight for their right to pass through Europe freely. Migrants and refugees crossing over to FYR Macedonia The hunger, the cold and the fear started to force people to cross borders where there is no wire fence the rivers. That already resulted in a death of a mother and a child, who drowned in the river.

4 Migrants crossing the river Suva (from Greece to FYR Macedonia) Fear and a desire to live Desperate attempts to cross green borders with the hope of a better life. This kind of entrance to Europe is filled with fear of death and the desire to live a safe and dignified life. Croatian Baptist Aid Our volunteers have been following this crisis since its beginnings, and have been involved in various ways: distribution of food, clothes, translating, prayer Our translators are now in Greece and we are preparing a team to go to the Greek-Macedonian border to help local teams.

5 Together we can do more If you want to help with material supplies (food, clothes), you can do so through the CBA team, which is directly involved in the field. If you would like to help financially, you can do so by sending the funds to this account: Account Name: Savez Baptistickih Crkava u RH Bank name: Zagrebačka Banka d.d. Address: Trg Bana Jelačića, Zagreb, Croatia IBAN: HR SWIFT ID Code: ZABAHR2X If you want to be part of the team working in the field, you can find out more by sending us an croatianbaptistaid@gmail.com May the Lord give us wisdom and strength, so that, regardless of all the uncertainty and speculations, we can be a light of Christ to these people in need of our help.