The volunteers' statements
| The volunteers' statements |
| "We'd always been deployed within Italian territory, whereas this time, operating as volunteers in Albania, we were up against a whole series of extra problems, the first of these being the language. But the thing which struck me most was the vast number of people who need our help, something which I was in no way prepared for. Since we can't communicate in their language, we have to try to guess at their needs. There are lice and scabies, and we need shampoo and soap. I saw a family sleeping inside a tent that was full of mud because of the recent rain." Guido, 56 years old, ANA volunteer nurse "What struck me was the bond with the old people which you could see in the families. A relationship which we have lost. Even those who aren't relatives protect the old people in the group." Lina, nurse "I decided to go to Kosovo after having seen the tragedy of the population of Kosovo on the television and in the newspapers. I wasn't prepared for a tragedy on such a vast scale. Seeing these things close up is totally different from seeing them on television. I know that what we are doing building this refugee camp is just a drop in the ocean, but for me it's important to see that the children who arrived at the camp, after a few days began to smile and play again. Even giving a smile or a piece of chocolate, and making them smile is important in the face of a tragedy like that which the people of Kosovo are living through." Alessandro, 26 years old, ANA Volunteer "I'm struck by this spirit of knuckling down and getting on with it: managing to set up an emergency clinic in ten minutes, complete with light, electricity and facilities for heating water. Working together so that with very little you can help someone to live again. We've treated over 50 children of under two." Anna, nurse "Most of the refugees were suffering from dehydration, and from cold. They'd been travelling for 3 to 4 days, and they'd covered 150 kilometres on foot. Their feet were in the most pitiful state." Gianni, helper "We worked for up to 36 hours on the trot, we were all completely exhausted when a little girl came up to us with a bunch of flowers and gave us a kiss. We were all terribly moved. This is the greatest satisfaction of all." Francesco, AVIS volunteer "In our refugee camp, we had the pleasure of seeing the first baby being born, Italo Fabio, an event which we hope will pave the way to the end of so much suffering." Giovanni, AVIS of Perfugas volunteer "I am struck by the human tragedy of the people of Kosovo, and by the backwardness of the Albanian population. The Kosovo refugees have the capacity of an entire people that wishes to survive, and that is lacking everything. I thought that food was the main requirement, but then I realised that they are without shoes and clothes and all the children have bronchitis." Enrico, 60 years old, ANA volunteer "In the refugee camps there are only women, children and old people, and a few lads of about 15 or 16. Many families have been split up; the men, it appears, have been killed by the Serbs. Our greatest satisfaction was that of managing to reunite 11 children with their families." Luciano, co-ordinator of the Sardinian volunteer group "In the first-aid tent, when we distributed the sanitary towels to the camp women their eyes filled with joy and emotion, some started to cry with joy, and others hugged and kissed us… I still haven't completely managed to take in this experience. The refugees never demanded anything from us, they just accepted the help which we gave them and offered them. I ask myself if we would be able to survive without water or food, cold and tired like them. But the wonderful thing was to see how, after two days, everyone in the camp seemed to be reborn." Sabina, nurse | |||
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