Eleonas Refugee Camp

is located in the middle of an industrial area between Athens and the port of Pireas. We had first gotten a glimpse of the camp during our visit to Tavro School #2, which is nearby and which accepts children from Eleonas camp. At the time, however, we had no permission to enter, so what we saw of the inside was minimal. The area outside is notable primarily for the bleakness of the neighborhood and the dust and noise of a constant stream of trucks passing down the narrow road in front of the camp gate. Inside, nearly 2000 residents (as of June, 2017) from a variety of countries live in the specially-adapted container-sized units common to most refugee camps in Greece. Each unit consists of a small room at either end and a bathroom in the middle. Often two families of up to 4 persons each will share a single unit, although at Eleonas the crowding appears to have decreased somewhat over time. A small fridge and sink in one corner serve as kitchen, and food preparation is done on the floor. Many families have been in Eleonas (and other camps) for well over a year, at this point.