In 'Against The Wire', Producer Bairbre Flood travels to Lesvos, Greece to talk to volunteers and refugees working in Moria Refugee Camp.

‘There are so many people there with different skills, who have a high educational background, but they are stuck there. They want to help develop their society. No one wants to come here to live here in that kind of situation.’ Abdul, from Ghana, coordinator of the One Happy Family school on the island.

The radio premiere of ‘Against The Wire’ airs on Newstalk 106-108fm on Sunday 2nd August at 7am, with a repeat broadcast airing on Saturday 8th August at 9pm. Podcast goes live after first broadcast.

Photo by Ahmad Rezai.

In her radio documentary feature, ‘Against The Wire’, premiering this weekend on Newstalk 106-108fm as part of the Documentary On Newstalk Series, producer Bairbre Flood visits Moria Refugee Camp to talk to those trying to improve the situation there.

We follow Irish nurse Elena Lydon who took a career break from her nursing job to volunteer with Medical Volunteers International, and who also helps care for over 300 unaccompanied minors in Moria camp.

‘Against The Wire’ meets Mustapha, an interpreter with Medical Volunteers International; Jameela, a mother trying to bring up her children in the camp; Adrianna, a medic with Boat Refugee Foundation; Ahmad, a photographer with ReFocus Media Labs, and Baqir, a teenager seeking a new life of safety.

We also visit a medical clinic in Athens and talk to Catherin McMenamin (coordinator of MVI Athens) and Casandra Espinosa a former legal case worker with Khora (a Greek support organisation), to get an overview of the situation for refugees in Greece. Most of those stuck on the islands are hopeful that eventually they can move on to Athens and continue their journey.

Producer Bairbre Flood notes: ‘I arrived on the island around the time of a spate of fascist attacks on refugees and volunteers - and with the looming presence of Covid-19 - which added to the already considerable pressures of day-to-day life in the camp.

It was incredibly humbling to witness the huge amount of solidarity and support refugees create for each other even under these circumstances.’

CREDITS: 'Against The Wire' was produced by Bairbre Flood and was supported by the Simon Cumbers Media Fund.

BROADCAST: The radio premiere of ‘Against The Wire’ airs on Newstalk 106-108fm on Sunday 2nd August at 7am, with a repeat broadcast airing on Saturday 8th August at 9pm. Podcast goes live after first broadcast.

LISTEN LIVE ONLINE: 'Against The Wire’ can also be listened to online at: www.newstalk.com

PODCAST: ‘Against The Wire’ is broadcast as part of the Documentary and Drama On Newstalk Series, which showcases the best of original, homegrown and groundbreaking Irish Radio features. Podcast full series here:

 https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/page/1/filter?filter_selected=show-filter&show=documentary-drama-newstalk&series=all

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