The Heraklion Central Welfare Committee established to receive them made every effort to deal with their tremendous needs. Collections were organised at frequent intervals to secure food and clothing, and repeated appeals to the locals' charitable instincts appeared in the press. Ten bakeries in the town worked solely to feed the refugees; numerous buildings, both public and private, were turned over to providing accommodation. Significant aid was provided by various charities including the American Red Cross, particularly with regard to medical care.
As was only natural, the presence of such a large number of wretched people was in some cases to lead to discontent within local society, and unfortunate incidents were not unheard of. Initially, the refugees themselves believed that their stay in the town was only a temporary measure, and that they would soon return home. But when the Treaty of Lausanne determined that the population exchange between Greece and Turkey was to be permanent, the dream of return faded and full integration into local society became the best solution available to the refugees.
