IFRC scales up humanitarian assistance to migrants in Europe

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is concerned about the urgent need of the increasing vulnerable migrants in Europe and is scaling up its response across affected countries, the organization said in a statement issued Wednesday.

According to IFRC, the number of migrants arriving in Greece this year has reached 158,456, more than half of the total arriving in Europe by sea, and in July alone more migrants crossed Greek borders than in the whole of 2014.

IFRC said in the statement that its volunteers are providing vital humanitarian assistance to thousands of people on the move along the Western Balkans migration trail which runs from Greece through Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary.

In Greece, IFRC said it is addressing the needs of 10,000 migrants on six islands, distributing food, water, and hygiene kits, and providing medical, psychosocial and family tracing services.

"Many of the people we are seeing are traumatized. They have endured dangerous and difficult journeys; some have seen family members die along the way, and still others have been subjected to prejudice and inhumane treatment," said Irene Panagiopoulo, president of Kos branch of Hellenic Red Cross.

"Some have medical issues that have been left untreated, while others do not know if their families are alive or dead. We are trying to meet their most immediate needs but it is not enough and more support is urgently required," Panagiopoulo noted.

According to the statement, IFRC is also providing first aid, food and blankets to 85,000 migrants arriving in three Italian harbors, as well as 4,600 people travelling through Macedonia, and 67,500 mothers and babies in Serbia. Endit