PHOTOS: Raincoats and blankies for refugees after downpours
The work of distributing aid is underway in Greece - with City Hope having now locally procured the items that will be handed out to the thousands of refugees in the port city of Thessaloniki and other parts of the country.
The Durban-based disaster relief organisation has sent a mission to lend a hand to those who have left their homes in Syria and other war-torn countries in the Middle East.
City Hope's Ockie van Heerden says they've so far spent around R140 000 to acquire various items that will be given to the men, women and children who are waiting at reception centres or staying in transit camps in that country.
"With winter approaching, some of the most urgent needs of the refugees are things such as raincoats, blankets, beanies, scarves, socks and water-proof bags. We had received word earlier on from an organisation from the other side of the border that many women were found crying at the refugee camps in Macedonia. The relentless rain over the past two days has left many stranded, wet and cold. Around 12 000 people have passed through this camp in the last 48 hours," he said.
Van Heerden met 21-year-old Lila, who is a student at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki.
Lila has started an initiative with her friends to collect clothes and other supplies at her university for refugees.
In the video below, Lila explains how she went about getting support for her initiative:
(Photos: Ockie van Heerden/City Hope)