Nerea Melgosa and Xabier Legarreta show the Basque Government's support for Zaporeak's work with refugees from Lesbos in Greece

• The Department of Equality, Justice and Social Policies organized a three-day visit to the Basque organisation's kitchens, from where more than 2,000 daily rations are prepared
• On the island, the Counsellor and the Director of Migration met with the Mayor of Mitelene, the General Director of the Kara Tepe II Camp and representatives of UNHCR
• They also learned first-hand about the work of organisations such as When We Band Together and Because We Carry, which offer safe spaces for women, boys and girls

The Basque Minister for Equality, Justice and Social Policies, Nerea Melgosa, and the Director for Migration and Asylum, Xabier Legarreta, travelled to the Greek island of Lesbos to visit the kitchens of Zaporeak, the Basque NGO responsible for distributing healthy food rations to refugees in the Kara Tepe II camp, as well as other social organisations based in the area. Peio García Amiano, founder of Zaporeak, hosted the visit for the three days. This way, they have the opportunity to observe the work of the NGO Zaporeak, which provides food assistance to thousands of refugees who are trapped on the island while seeking international protection.

The trip of the Basque delegation was part of the support that the Basque Government offers to organisations that serve vulnerable groups, in this case refugees and asylum seekers. Likewise, it intended to reinforce the presence and work of Zaporeak on the island, showing the institutional support and, therefore, the support of all Basque society, for its solidarity work.

Since the international spotlight has evolved and shifted to other regions, the suffering of refugees on Lesbos has not diminished. Thousands of people continue to arrive on the island in search of safety and refuge, fleeing conflict and persecution in their home countries. However, due to the complexity of the procedures and restrictions, many of them are trapped in refugee camps, facing difficult living conditions, uncertainty and difficulties in their day-to-day lives.

Faced with this situation, the Basque Government maintains its firm commitment to the values of humanity and solidarity, reaffirming its support for the humanitarian work carried out by organizations such as Zaporeak, as stated in the Basque Social Pact for Migration.

Through its work, Zaporeak not only provides basic nutrition to more than 2,000 people, but also creates a sense of community and solidarity in a challenging environment. Fundamental dedication and effort to alleviate the difficulties faced by refugees on Lesbos.

The delegation's visit to Lesbos underlines the Basque Government's commitment to the values of equality, justice and solidarity. By directly witnessing the situation on the island and learning about Zaporeak's work, they gain a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges faced by refugees, as well as evaluate possible avenues of support and collaboration at the institutional level.

During their stay, Nerea Melgosa and Xabier Legarreta participated in meetings with UNHCR representatives; with Stratis Kytelis, Mayor of Mitelene; with Dimitrios Kantemnidis, Managing Director of Kara Tepe II, the Refugee Reception and Identification Centre on Lesbos; with the NGOs When We Band Together and Because We Carry, that also work in the area with women, children and other stakeholders involved in the humanitarian response on Lesbos.

The visit provided an invaluable opportunity for the exchange of knowledge, experiences and perspectives, in order to strengthen ties and cooperation in the search for effective solutions. This way, the Basque Government reiterates its commitment to the promotion of human rights and international solidarity, addressing humanitarian challenges and working towards a more just and equitable world.

Basque Social Pact for Migration

In November 2019, the Basque institutions and most of the social organizations that act in relation to migration phenomena signed the Basque Social Pact for Migration, a joint commitment to address migration challenges and promote coexistence in the Basque Country, with the aim of offering an adequate response to migration, which is a structural reality in the world, Europe and the Basque Country.

The pact recognizes that Basque society needs immigration to respond to its labour and demographic needs. Therefore, it seeks to establish a framework of reception and integration for migration in its different guises, promoting a culture of coexistence based on solidarity, co-responsibility, the defence of pluralism, human rights and equality, as well as the rejection of any form of racism or discrimination.

The pact includes the need to respond to the extent of institutional capacities to humanitarian appeals, both from institutions and from international and local NGOs acting on the ground, either in the Mediterranean Sea or in countries of origin or transit.

Within this framework, the Zaporeak project and the Aita Mari rescue ship have been supported with the following direct or nominative subsidies:

2018 a 2020: Secretariat General of Human Rights, Coexistence and Cooperation 2021 to 2023:
 Migration and Asylum Directorate