We plan to break the siege of Gaza and deliver much needed humanitarian aid by joining the Viva Palestina Convoy. We intend to leave on October 4th from the UK, and then travel through Europe, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and then into Egypt and through the Rafah border. Total distance will be about 4,000 miles, and will take about 16 days driving approximately . The first Viva Palestina Convoy took place in February 2009 and crossed into Gaza with over 100 vehicles and more than €1 million in aid.
Already we have one ambulance to drive to Gaza and give to the people there and plan to have more by October, we now need to raise funds for medical supplies to donate as well as for the cost of getting the vehicles there. Everyone working to make this happen is a volunteer and all money raised goes directly to the vehicles, medical supplies and getting them to Gaza.
Check out our events page for upcoming fundraisers or make a direct donation to us here.
Background information:
· GAZA has been under siege and subject to a blockade following the Hamas election victory of 2006. This has imposed a humanitarian crisis on the civilian population. The reality of the blockade for the average Gazan includes: crippling of the local economy ensuring reliance on international aid for 80% of people, chronic unemployment ,limited electricity and clean water, severe restrictions on movement and a paralyzed medical service. Essentially, Israel has created an open prison and is progressively creating genocide through sanctions.
· The humanitarian crisis drastically escalated with the barbaric Israeli attack in December 2008 and January 2009. During the attack, 1,417 people were killed. 926 of the dead were civilian including 288 children and 121 women. 5,303 Palestinians were injured in the assault, including 1,606 children and 828 women. Aid agencies continue to report the situation in Gaza as critical.
· The blockade continues: Tons of food and medical supplies are waiting to enter through the Egyptian border crossing at Rafah. The border is closed and supplies are not reaching those most in need. The closure of borders amounts to a trade embargo on the region.
· The United States and the European Union including Ireland have been complicit in sustaining the siege and the resulting humanitarian crisis through the imposition of sanctions on the civilian population following the 2006 Palestinian elections. Israel, the USA and Ireland through the EU refuse to recognise the results of a democratic election.
· The Palestinian people have been prevented from seeking justice for the heinous crimes committed, through the inaction of the governments of the international community who have essentially endorsed Israeli aggression through silence.
