Volunteering team returns from Samos

Dentist Jane Lelean and dental nurse Claire Hooper spent a week in Samos treating people who were suffering terrible dental pain. The team was based in a temporary building in Samos Camp which is home to about 1,000 men of many different nationalities. Most of them have complex dental needs and have been living in pain for many months.  Several are on liquid diets and can’t eat because their pain is so severe.

“The need was huge and they all needed teeth to be extracted,” said Jane. “Most needed to have several teeth removed and will require more treatment. We saw people from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Algeria, Afghanistan, Morocco and Pakistan and they had escaped the most brutal and terrible situations. It was awful hearing their stories and seeing people who had suffered so much violence.  However, the clinics had a very calm atmosphere and the refugees were friendly, kind to each other and incredibly grateful. Despite being in this desperate situation, they volunteered to translate and were very keen to thank us. It means so much to them that people volunteer in the camps and want to help.”