Farming families in the small village of Pelopi, Lesvos (population ~ 300) have lost their livelihoods in the weeks following a devastating outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), a highly contagious livestock illness. These are the first cases of FMD seen in Greece in 25 years. Thousands of animals have already been culled, leaving families without income, deeply distressed, and grappling with an uncertain future as generations of work disappear almost overnight.

We are a group of Greek-Australian cousins from Melbourne with family roots in Pelopi. We are greatly tied to this village, with many aunties, uncles, and cousins continuing to live there permanently.

Pelopi is incredibly important to us, which makes this situation deeply personal. It’s a village whose streets we’ve walked, whose homes we’ve been welcomed into, and whose people have profoundly shaped our lives. It is the origin of our family’s migration story—one that has afforded us a privileged life in Australia—and we feel deeply compelled to give back in whatever way we can.

Right now, Pelopi is facing an unprecedented crisis. While FMD poses no physical health threat to humans, the impacts have been enormous in this small community. For many residents of Pelopi, farming is not merely a job—it is their only source of income, their identity, and a way of life that has been passed down for generations. The loss has left families heartbroken, financially strained, and uncertain about their future.

When one animal tests positive, protocol requires that all livestock in that herd be slaughtered. In Pelopi alone, thousands of livestock have already been culled, reflecting a financial loss in excess of $700,000 AUD. This excludes further losses from unsellable products and ongoing halted production—an enormous impact for such a small community.

In just a few weeks, strict measures have been enforced on the island that have suspended all livestock-related exports, retroactively applied as of January 15. This has resulted in months of lost income from milk, cheese, and other dairy products that can no longer be sold, particularly in the lead-up to one of the busiest times of the year: Easter. Impacts are also being felt internationally, including in Australia, where stricter import measures have been placed on Greek dairy products produced from February 15 onwards.

Despite this large-scale loss, the community has felt unsupported by their government. Farmers are often given very short notice before their herds are culled and have not been provided formal documentation of positive test results. While some government compensation is expected, the timeline around this is unknown and is unlikely to cover the full extent of losses. In the meantime, families are left without income or short-term support, facing increasing distress and uncertainty.

Local news footage captures the emotional toll on villagers, many of whom are watching their livelihoods disappear overnight: -> WATCH HERE

Funds raised will be evenly distributed amongst affected families in Pelopi, and we are in direct contact with these families and local community members to ensure this occurs fairly and transparently.

Your support will help families get through this immediate crisis while they work to rebuild their livelihoods from the ground up.

If you’re able to donate today, we are deeply grateful. If not, sharing this page can make a real difference.