Hi all

An update about the situation in Lesvos, which is only escalating:

On 10th July there was a fire in Moria camp which completely burnt down the lawyer, medical, and Eurorelief containers. There were no casualties. The fire was started by a group of African refugees who felt that taking such a serious measure as this is now the only way to speak up against the system which continues to cause refugees much stress. One African refugee received papers which said he was to be deported back to his home country. Many Africans were outraged and went to the police there to say that either all Africans should be deported or none. The police responded violently which caused the refugees to react by burning Moria. See the video of this on our Facebook page.

Another fire occurred today in Moria. Many people, women and children included, had to be evacuated away from the camp. These situations will continue to happen until the peoples’ voices are heard.

Violence is only increasing among refugees in Lesvos as people are waiting longer and longer with nothing to do – some are waiting eighteen months only to be told they will be deported. Our squat is also experiencing the same problem. Refugees left their countries to seek freedom only to be kept for so long in the prison that is Moria.
Furthermore, Moria is introducing a new system of money giving refugees slightly more money, but food will no longer be served in the camp. The washrooms and toilets are not fit to be called satisfactory living conditions.

Lesvos is a jail due to lack of rights and ill treatment to refugees. Several refugees from our squat were sent to hospital with serious injuries due to a car accident only to be discharged 5 days later back to the squat as this is all the healthcare that they are covered for. One was then sent back to hospital several days after as volunteer doctors who visit the squat discovered serious back injuries in one person.

The treatment of police to refugees in the city is also creating tension among people, which will only cause refugees to become more violent. Refugees will be randomly stopped to spend a long time with police to check their papers, some will be taken to the police station for further checks for no reason whatsoever.

However, we will continue to work around the system and ensure we have a strong community with the 61 refugees in No Border Squat – regularly having communal events and reinforcing our goal to never back down.
With Love,

No Border Squat

Hello everybody!

On Wednesday night we had a party downstairs in the hall of one of our squatted buildings to celebrate Layat al-Qadr. Everybody was welcome to enjoy the food brought to you by everybody living here. Together we were prepairing the party as organizing, cooking and providing sitting and eating places. Around 250 people came to celebrate with us.

What is Layat al-Qadr? 

It means the “Night Of Destiny”. It is an Islamic observance which marks the night of Prophet Mohammed received the first verses of the Qu’ran and was told to spread the word of Islam. Therefore it was the first day of Qu’ran.

Thanks to all who came to celebrate with us this anniversary! It was a huge success and really nice to host all our guests.

Greetings and hugs from NoBorderSquat-Team.

Hello everybody! “We are here”, here on Lesvos island in the Squat, outside of Moria, as a sign against inhuman conditions, racism, facism and social exclusion. We are a non-hierarchical, self-organized group made up of refugees and activists from all around the world.

Our aim is to create a social place where “refugees” and “volunteers” can live together at the same level and where friends from all around the world have a home to stay; a home where we can feel comfortable and united.

Our project tries to find a peaceful way for people to live together in times of oppression and injustice.

We find a way to live in 2 squatted buildings with around 60 to 80 persons from 9 different nations, while we are respecting and helping each other, regardless of our origin.

The political sitiuation in the world poses new problems every day. Each person who is living here has an individual story, individual thoughts and individual problems.
We try to minimize the frustration and the pressure as an united group as good as possible.
For this the aspect of social-work in our squats is a very important part of our daily life.

We believe in our capacity to resist the regime of devastation that is undermining those aspects of our lives that we cherish the most: freedom to move, to share and to create relations of respect and curiosity.

We are not here to judge the people for their past, how they have been before and in what situation they where in. The only thing that matters is how the people are behaving now and where they see themselves in the future, regardless of what they`ve been in the past. In fact, we try to accompany everybody on the way to this future.

All people receive boxes containing general food and cooking utensils. This way, everybody is free to create their own daily routine. We are also working together to keep the place clean and comfortable.

We have different smaller and bigger projects running. For example …

… On Sundays we are creating a social space where we provide a communal kitchen and coffee, tea and water for all people. Everybody is working together; cooking and welcoming our guests.

… Playing sports together on the field in the big hall of one squat is another important part of the day. There are self-organized football, volleyball and basketball teams.

… Also, we try to support each other in earning different languages, alphabeth, cultures and anything else that shows up in our daily life. 

Our No Border Social Squats is a political statement that rejects the ideas and political acts of the European Union. We want to make clear that it is not an option to close, build or preserve borders. We believe that the fortress of Europe and its borders must be destroyed. For a free movement of all humans – for showing humanity and solidarity.

Everybody who wants to show the political statement of squatting and help in times of injustice is welcome to come and live with us. As individuals of different backgrounds, we adhere to the broad terms of Anti-fascism, Anti-racism and Anti-sexism.

The continuation of political and economical systems, built out of war, injustice and exploitation, forces people to migrate.
We reject the ongoing mobilization of massive resources for the purpose of controlling and restricting the migration of those deemed ‘undesirable’ or lacking worth to the capitalistic system.
We also reject the increasing militarization of our societies and the erection of walls and borders. We want to fight the distinctions the state and media make between “good” and “bad” migrants based on labels like “refugees”, “economic migrants”, “innocent victims” or “criminals.” We believe in unconditional freedom of movement for all.

We keep this page updated about our work in the squat and news from Lesvos – so see you soon!

Greetings from NoBorderSquat-Team