by Maria Spiliopoulou, Valentini Anagnostopoulou
MATI, Greece, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Almost a month after the destructive July 23 wildfire which swept through this seaside resort, 30 kilometers east of Athens, and killed 96 people, those left behind are struggling to return to normality.
As the state hands out financial assistance to over 4,000, according to the latest official data, and volunteers lend a helping hand to survivors to clean up the mess and set up homes from the start, the Hellenic Red Cross helps heal wounds, physical and psychological.
Mobile units of Hellenic Red Cross medical experts visit at least 50 fire-stricken locals at their homes every day to treat burns, respiratory problems, chronic diseases and provide psychological assistance to people who are still mourning for the loss of relatives, friends, neighbors and a peaceful paradise.
Ligeri Panagiotopoulou, 78, is one of the people receiving medical care from the nurses of the Hellenic Red Cross. She suffered burns during the wildfire, as she was escaping the flames with one of her daughters and neighbors inside a car.
The trauma was infected, because in the first hours after witnessing the deadliest tragedy in over a decade in Greece, she did not pay attention, until a Red Cross expert examined her.
Panagiotopoulou is happy her family lost just a car and their home suffered minor damages.
"If I had lost this house I would be homeless, but it still would be ok, since we are fine," she told Xinhua on Saturday.
Her second daughter was stranded on the beach with hundreds of other people for hours, while her son was assisting people to escape.
"He rescued many people and I am so proud of him," she said.
The house at Mati is the family's main residence after her children lost their jobs during the eight years of debt crisis.
The electricity supply has still not be restored, the yard and the entire neighborhood is black, but she stays home to fill in applications for aid and open the door to technicians for repairs.
"Nobody comes here anymore. People who lived here left, because they have small children and they cannot stand this smell," she said. She is grateful that Red Cross medics stop by every day to check on her. She feels she is not left alone.
Ilias Karvounopoulos and his family live a few meters further. He considers himself also extremely lucky for escaping with burns and not losing a loved one. His home, also a main residence, has suffered minor damage.
"Several persons died and many homes were destroyed. I believe I am blessed and lucky," he told Xinhua reporters.
He managed to escape on his motorbike following the car of his neighbor who had picked up his elderly mother. They fled surrounded by flames. Karvounopoulos had taken off his shirt to cover his nose, because he couldn't breathe due to the smoke. He suffered burns and was transferred to hospital for the first aid.
"I saw once images of a tsunami. It was similar, but instead of seawater it was the blaze burning everything. The temperature was unbearable, but thanks to adrenaline and the will to survive I managed to - excuse me - I managed to do what I did..."
"The temperature was extremely high. Car rims melted. This is how I suffered burns," he recalled.
The doctors who treated him the first night told him that his wounds would most likely not heal before October. He already feels much better.
"I wish these people the best. I am grateful. They are great people... I owe the improvement of my health to a large extent to the Red Cross," he said.
Nurse Lina Tsitsou is the coordinator of the Hellenic Red Cross relief program for the fire-stricken in Attica. Emergency crews of the Greek branch of the international humanitarian organization rushed to Mati from the first hours to assist in rescue operations and offer medical aid.
"From day one until today we continue to provide medical care and psychological and social support to people in need," she said, noting the progress made so far.
"The change is obvious. They have somehow started returning to normality. In the first days physically and psychologically they had serious problems and the image was different," she said.
"Initially they hesitated to ask for help and we had to try hard to get the information. They would say 'what can I say, people we knew are gone? I cannot say a thing. I am alive.' Yet they had serious health issues which needed to be addressed. Now they gradually start focusing on their needs," Tsitsou explained.
Locals opened their homes and their hearts to Tsitsou and her colleagues, experienced medical experts who had to try hard to stand strong to provide help and not be affected by the catastrophe.
"The site is harsh. Imagine how hard it gets, when you start talking to people and they narrate what they have been through," she explained.
She feels happy the Hellenic Red Cross has the means to assist with the assistance of donors. The Red Cross Society of China donated 100,000 U.S. dollars to the Hellenic Red Cross to support relief efforts in Attica.
Although many wounds have been healed, there is still much work to be done.
"Many people have still not returned, because they cannot cope with the comeback to the place where they lived so tragic moments. In September we expect a spike in needs, because they will return for the children to go back to school," Tsitsou said.
