The American Red Cross Magazine (Vol. 8, No. 2, April 1913)American National Red Cross
History
The American Red Cross Magazine (Vol. 8, No. 2, April 1913)
American National Red Cross
American National Red Cross -- Periodicals; Red Cross and Red Crescent -- Periodicals
Those refugees remaining in the cities have also been scattered as
extensively as possible, a notable instance being Konia, where 2,500
people have been scattered all over the city and surrounding gardens, a
few dozen having been put into each “mahle” or quarter of the city, so
that it took a week of careful search and inquiry to obtain statistics
that were anywhere near accurate. This extensive scattering makes the
work of relief very difficult; nevertheless much has been accomplished
already and by systematic canvassing by American missionaries and native
agents it is hoped that much of the suffering and need of the refugees
will be discovered and relieved. Relief of over-crowding, supply of
adequate clothing and bedding, opening of soup kitchens and supply of
food other than the dry bread given by the government, distribution
of fuel and medical aid, indicate the principal lines along which the
Red Cross must work for the next two or three months. The officials
everywhere express the hope that they will be able to send the refugees
back to Europe for the spring, but, of course, nothing definite can be
planned as yet. Whatever may be the political outcome of the Balkan war,
a large number of the refugees will undoubtedly remain in Anatolia, and
the Red Cross may then consider the advisability of providing employment
for these people, supplying them with farm implements, etc. The large
majority of the refugees are women and children, many of these having
been rendered widows and orphans by the war; the few able-bodied men who
have come have for the most part, been drafted into the Turkish army
and sent to Chatalja, so that the question of employment will have to
be considered later on. A few of the refugees are able to earn money by
carting wood and grain, using their primitive oxcarts for the purpose,
but most of them are idle, and on account of the great scattering
throughout the country they must, unfortunately, remain so for some time
to come. It is most fortunate that the general health of the refugees is
good, and from the hygienic standpoint the policy of scattering has no
doubt been a good one. There are, of course, many cases of sickness among
them, and in the process of investigation we have found many people at
the point of death from exposure and cold, the most pathetic cases being
among the children. Here again the scattering makes it impossible to do
much visiting, and though the communities may be saved from epidemic,
many individuals, sad to say, will perish from cold, hunger and disease
this winter.
[Illustration: MACEDONIAN REFUGEES FLEEING TO CONSTANTINOPLE.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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