Just 6 km from Turkey’s coast, Chios, Greece’s 5th largest island, is a favoured crossing point for smugglers ferrying refugees from war and drought-stricken countries to the EU. Boat Landings are no longer in the news, but they continue to occur regularly. And the people land on Chios cold and wet, with just what they’ve carried with them. The government maintains the Vial Refugee camp and provides for basic needs. Any other needs are met by NGOs, several of which closed during Covid. There is an ongoing need for support of the hundreds of refugees in Vial camp on Chios, those that live locally, and the increasing number of unaccompanied minors.

Offene Arme (Formerly CESRT)

Offene Arme is the only remaining NGO on Chios with a Free Shop that provides Non-Food Items to refugees and asylum seekers. NFI items include essentials like diapers, blankets, clothes, shower gel, shoes, razors, toothpaste. We distribute these through:

    Landing Packs of essentials that can be distributed to the refugees when they first arrive;
    A Free Shop where refugees can choose their own clothes and hygiene items, returning a small sense of normality;
    A Pop-up Shop that is set up just outside the refugee camp for Unaccompanied Minors (UAMs) and those that can’t walk to the Free Shop;
    Baby project - creating baby packs for babies born in the camp, and providing strollers for all under 2years old

Offene Arme e.V

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