Aylesbury dentist returns from refugee mission in Greece
A dentist from Aylesbury has returned after spending time helping refugees on the Greek island of Samos.
Jane Lelean visited the island as part of a project run by Dentaid, a UK-based charity, which oversees international aid projects. Jane spent a week on Samos, providing care for refugees who had travelled to Greece from countries like Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Morocco and Syria. Many of the people she treated were in immense pain, and they required urgent attention.
Dentaid is responding to urgent cases in Samos Camp. Some people here have such terrible dental pain that they are limited to a liquid diet, and the charity is trying to treat as many people as possible as quickly as possible.
Jane described the need for help as “huge” and said that all the people she saw needed teeth extracting, such was the severity of decay and gum disease. Jane said some of the stories she heard were heart-breaking, with many people having to leave loved ones and several facing life without homes, opportunities or the support of friends or family. Families have been broken up and destroyed, and many arrived in Greece with virtually nothing to their name. Despite their terrible experiences, everyone was very grateful for the care offered by Jane and the team, and there seemed to be a positive spirit in the camp. New friendships were being forged, and there was a calm atmosphere.
Samos Camp is getting busier by the day, and boat loads of refugees are arriving on a regular basis. The refugees are able to leave the camp after 26 days, but many don’t know where to go or how to get there.
Jane said the experience was very tough, but also hugely rewarding.
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