Pikpa camp or ''Lesbos Solidarity'', was a privately-run refugee camp, located on the Neapoli area near

Mytilene Mytilene (; ) is the capital city, capital of the Greece, Greek island of Lesbos, and its port. It is also the capital and administrative center of the North Aegean Region, and hosts the headquarters of the University of the Aegean. It was fo ...

Lesbos Lesbos or Lesvos ( ) is a Greek island located in the northeastern Aegean Sea. It has an area of , with approximately of coastline, making it the third largest island in Greece and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, eighth largest ...

. It had a capacity of 100-120 people, though it hosted hundreds more during times of acute need. Its aim was to support the most vulnerable refugees who pass through Mytilene: families with children, the disabled, women who are pregnant, and the injured. The camp focused on humanitarian aid and on providing for the various needs of refugees, including food, medical assistance, clothing, and psychological support.

History

The site of the PIKPA village was originally a children's summer camp. In 2012 it was transformed by the Lesvos Solidarity Network (and with the help of local authorities) into "The Village of Altogether"—a safe haven for vulnerable refugees. In 2016, Lesvos Solidarity registered as an NGO to further organize resources following the growing refugee crisis on Lesbos arising from the March 2016 EU-Turkey agreement. That same year, the UN Refugee Agency recognized a leader of the Pikpa Camp, Efi Latsoudi, with its Nansen Refugee Award. On 29 October 2020, its threatened sudden closure was at the last minute postponed, although the authorities stated that it would be closed "as soon as possible". The next day the closure was enforced, and occupants were transferred to the "old" Kara Tepe Refugee Camp.

References

{{reflist Syrian refugee camps Refugee camps in Lesbos Nansen Refugee Award laureates

History

See also

References