New York, NY, June 13, 2017 —
The eastern Aegean island of Lesbos was rocked by an earthquake measuring 6.2 R on the Richter scale on Monday. One woman lost her life and at least ten other people were injured when the quake-damaged houses in the village of Vrissa collapsed. Twelve villages in southern Lesbos were reported to have suffered most damages from Monday’s earthquake as buildings were completely destroyed.
The International Rescue Committee offered support to the local municipality to assist local residents who were unable to stay at their destroyed houses. An IRC team arrived at the local football stadium on Monday night where approximately 50 people from the quake-affected village of Vrissa had been relocated for temporary housing. In coordination with the Greek army and police, the IRC distributed WakaWaka portable solar chargers, sleeping mats, cots and toilet paper to support the response, as well as two chemical toilets at the request of the municipality.
IRC psychologists were on site to provide counseling and emotional support to the villagers.
Authorities in Greece have declared a state of emergency on the island of Lesbos as 800 people are left homeless after their homes were completely destroyed.
The International Rescue Committee has been responding to Europe’s refugee crisis on Lesbos since July 2015.