Gaza is waiting for help

Gaza is waiting for help

We are setting out with aid ships in May.

A major initiative is underway to deliver aid by the sea to Gaza Strip, which has been under an inhumane embargo for over three years. Hundreds of concerned people will set out onboard 9 ships in May to deliver over 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid cargo to Gaza.

In Gaza, where 60 percent of the population lives under the poverty line, thousands of people are without homes thanks to the illegal embargo forced by Israel. Residents of about 4,000 houses that were destroyed in the latest Israeli military campaign are now living in tents or together with their relatives, because importing construction materials into Gaza is not allowed. There is also a shortage of emergency care medicines due to the restrictions at borders. Many patients either are crippled for life or die due to a lack of access to proper medical care, medicines or medical equipment.

IHH, The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief, successfully led the “Set out for Palestine” aid convoy in January of this year to break the embargo, and is now preparing to launch another convoy by the sea. Hundreds of aid workers will be carrying thousands of tons of relief supplies as well as construction materials that are urgently needed in the territory, onboard a number of ships, some of which are due to sail off from Europe. Construction materials will be used in rebuilding Gaza’s destroyed civil infrastructure and facilities, which were torn down by Israel, as well as homes of thousands of Palestinian families.

Large amounts of relief supplies collected worldwide through voluntary activities are awaiting dispatch to Palestine, while international humanitarian platform against Israel continue to expand. Seven smaller aid boats have successfully managed to deliver relief supplies to Palestine since the embargo was imposed three years ago, but this will be the first time such a large scale aid effort is attempted. To achieve this objective, thousands of volunteers are working meticulously worldwide. IHH, who has taken responsibility for organizing this giant task, is trying to make sure that they fulfill all the humanitarian, legal, technical and political requirements to ensure the safe and sound arrival of the aid flotilla in Gaza which will set sail in April.

Support from all nations is needed to successfully carry out such a major aid campaign. In this regard, we are reiterating our call for co-operation and support out to benevolent people to help Palestinian people recover. You too can contribute to the delivery of thousands of tons of humanitarian aid cargo to Palestine and take part in this convoy, which has become the common voice of concerned people worldwide.