This mission was entirely dedicated to the camp in Turkey.
It was an intense and demanding mission, marked by relentless rain that never left us for the entire duration of the trip. The weather conditions made every activity more complex, both for us and, above all, for the families living in the camp. Many visits and distributions took place under the rain or inside the tents, in cramped and precarious spaces. It was not easy, but we managed to carry out everything we had planned.
Dr. Andolina examined a large number of people every day. The main health issues encountered were related to cold and humidity: respiratory infections, flu-like illnesses, and conditions worsened by months of living in wet tents. We provided the necessary medications and, fortunately, no one needed to be hospitalized, despite the presence of some delicate cases.
The screening work on child malnutrition, which we have been carrying out for a long time, also continued. The doctor assessed each child and carefully determined the quantity and type of milk to be distributed, based on age and nutritional status. This intervention is producing significant results: cases of malnutrition are gradually decreasing. Unfortunately, some newborns have been added to the list of children to be monitored, but early intervention allows us to act immediately.
We distributed food parcels throughout the entire camp and met with families one by one. Many told us they are still there because they have no concrete alternatives: they lack the means to return to Syria and, above all, there is a great deal of fear. Some households have left the camp, as previously reported, but the majority of the families and children we support are still present.
We delivered the long-distance sponsorship support and also visited the school, together with the teacher and the students. The school exists and operates, but with great difficulty. The number of children attending is lower than the number it could accommodate. Many are forced to work to support their families; at other times, they simply cannot attend regularly. Those who attend school are mostly girls and young women. It is a fragile project, embedded in an equally fragile community, focused on daily survival rather than on a vision for the future. Despite this, even a single child in school has value for us, and we will continue to support it with realism and responsibility.
As always, we visited all the most vulnerable cases that we support closely: families, children, and stories we know well. We also met Ahmed again, the father who makes bracelets, a sign of a relationship that over time becomes continuity.
It was a very tiring mission, but truly productive. Despite the rain and the difficult conditions, everything was carried out in an orderly and intense way, without ever stopping from morning until evening.