The northwestern working-class suburbs of Menidi and Metamorfosi were severely damaged, while other better-off sections in areas nearby were spared destruction. So far 40,000 buildings have been inspected for damages caused by the quake and 4,500 have been declared as needing to be demolished. One third of the public schools in the Athens area are unsafe and need repair as a result of the quake.

While touring the devastated zones, Militant reporters saw entire blocks of buildings marked with a red "X" on the outside, meaning the buildings had to be destroyed. On some streets 9 out of 10 buildings have the red X while the rest have a yellow X, denoting repairs are needed. Nearby squares and empty spaces are filled with tent cities as the residents of these working-class areas have nowhere else to go.

Many working people individually brought food and other materials in solidarity with those residents in the areas hardest hit by the quake.

"Our relations with the Greeks are now better than before," said Nizar, a Pakistani immigrant worker, who was standing in front of his tent. Nizar worked in a plastics factory in the area. "It is like this because the earthquake did not discriminate between Greeks and immigrants."

Most of the small plants in the area are now destroyed, including factories which employ many immigrant workers. Some workers were trapped in plants by the earthquake. According to the government's Manpower Organization (OAED) 30,000 workers have lost their jobs.

Touring nearby areas, though, one could see that the effects of the quake were "discriminatory" in other ways. The poor neighborhoods are devastated while well-built homes of the rich, which are located nearby, remain almost intact.

Many working people in northwestern Athens expressed outrage at the shoddy construction by contractors who skimped on materials and cut corners to make a fast buck. Olga, a Russian immigrant, said state authorities "brought us things like croissants and water, but important things, No!"

Ilias Kalantzis, who is camped out in the central square with his family, explained, "What they show on TV is all a show. They go to those few places where tents were distributed and they bring the cameras along. I see that on TV and wonder, it is for others and not us."

The town square is full of makeshift tents constructed from pieces of plastic or from camping tents bought by the victims themselves. "The free tents being distributed by the municipality are done selectively," said another member of the Kalantzis family. "We should consider blocking off some major highways to pressure the government."

The government has promised an immediate grant of 200,000 Drachmas (US$1=310 Drc.) for each family that has lost its housing. This requires Greek identity cards or residence papers, making undocumented workers ineligible.

At the destroyed Ricomex chemical plant, emergency rescue teams continue their search for workers who are trapped or have been killed. One volunteer Turkish rescue worker there who identified himself only as Mustafa explained, "Our rescue team came from Turkey first of all to indicate our solidarity with the people who are buried in the rubble. It was only a few days ago that we ourselves faced the same experience in Turkey. But we also wanted to express our solidarity towards the Greek people."

The region of Istanbul in Turkey was devastated by a earthquake registering 7.4 on the Richter scale August 17, where at least 18,000 people perished. The Athens quake was 5.9 on the Richter scale.

Throughout the entire western part of Athens, families continue to reside in tents because they fear the consequences of the aftershocks on their homes.  
 
 
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