Our group has gotten to do lots of cross- training here - learning all the various tasks undertaken by EuroRelief in the camp. Yesterday I worked the diaper line.
EuroRelief distributes donated diapers to each family in Moria once/week (to families with kids in diapers, of course). The # you get is dependent on how many kids you have, what ages, etc. - it’s actually all tracked on a computer.
Diapers are distributed daily but each family can only come once/week in order to make it manageable. Either the mom or dad can stand in line, and 100 tickets for the daily distribution are given out at 8 am - 50 to men and 50 to women. They are supposed to stand in an orderly line to get the tickets.
Yesterday the men filed by one by one for their tickets. It could not have been more orderly. Five feet away it was UTTER CHAOS in the women’s “line.” So much shouting. A cat fight broke out. We threatened to not give out any tickets for the women at all. The men had their tickets in one minute, but 15 minutes later the women were still not lining up!
I expected the men to step up and explain the process and get the women to get in line. Instead, they all just watched and laughed. Then I hear this happens every day! I was embarrassed to be a woman!
Most things in Moria run on a schedule and involve at least an attempt to establish orderly lines. Of course, it helps camp run better but it’s also because the refugees are hoping to begin their lives in a Western culture. Here life runs on a schedule. Here it’s not cool to cut in line. In their cultures, it’s totally acceptable for the biggest and loudest to dominate and refuse to get behind someone else. I have to admit I smiled a little when the pushy ones got no ticket yesterday. They will get their diapers. But they will have to wait their turn!
Muslims do not believe in birth control. So lots of diapers! We also gave out sanitary pads. Muslim women are not allowed to use tampons (Sheesh!).
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