The mission organized by EDON to express solidarity with the Syrian refugees in Lebanon was a great success. The delegation of EDON was headed by the Central Organisational Secretary of the Organization Vakis Charalambous. The EDON delegation visited the city of Baalbek in the east of Lebanon near the border with Syria, from the 18th up to 22nd February 2016. The delegation also included the members of the Central Council of EDON Rebecca Saaban and Sotira Sotiriou, as well as the member of the Central Office of the EDON Pioneer Movement Antonis Kokonas.
This EDON mission to Lebanon was the culmination of the mass campaign organized by the Children's Movement of EDON Pioneers within the framework of the annual "Solidarity Carols", which this year was dedicated to the refugee children of Syria. With the amount raised from this year's campaign (€ 4219, 06) basic foodstuff packages were purchased and prepared which were delivered to 150 families of refugees who lack essential items.
The choice of the region was not accidental, given that thousands of Syrians have been made refugees in this region in the past few years as a result of the bloody civil war which has been fermented and cultivated by NATO, the European Union and their allies in the region. This is a region which unfortunately does not receive to the necessary degree support and assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR and other NGO's.
The images from the mission reflect in the clearest way the tragic consequences of the crimes committed by imperialism in Syria in recent years. The magnitude of the humanitarian catastrophe is not only reflected in the thousands of refugees who in recent years have lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea, but also in those who remain in the country. We are referring to the families trying to survive, in need and searching for basic foodstuffs and medicines. The terrible and squalid living conditions with three and four families residing in small and cold rooms, the wretched accommodation or even garages without beds or even without mattresses make up the whole picture. Jobs and education for these families are a luxury.
As part of its mission, the delegation of EDON had official meetings with a delegation of the Communist Party of Lebanon and the Palestinian Democratic Union of Youth of Lebanon, whilst the delegation also met with the families of Lebanese soldiers whose children are missing and held captive by the "Islamic State."
With this mission, EDON demonstrated, once again, in the most practical way its solidarity with the victims of the imperialist atrocities committed and particularly with the refugees, who are suffering in the most brutal way the consequences of the ongoing imperialist intervention in the Middle East.
We note the warm welcome EDON received from the refugees and the great interest they showed in hearing and learning about the situation in Cyprus and our own tragedy. Furthermore, we note the support and contribution of the Democratic Youth Union of Lebanon in the preparation and implementation of this mission.
23rd February 2016, Nicosia.