URGENT: Storm in Gaza

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Published on Tuesday, 13 January 2015 18:00

Written by editor

Action Alert

Humanitarian relief aid urgently needed in storm-battered Gaza

Please act now: Together we can help save lives

Dear PAOV,

For nine days in November, we had the privilege of being part of the Washington State Physicians for Social Responsibility Health Delegation to Gaza. To be in Gaza so soon after last summer’s devastating war was to catch a glimpse –through the heart-wrenching stories we heard and the massive destruction we saw – of the grotesque horror of those 51 days in July and August.

Now, six months later, as a winter storm sweeps the area, we are hearing reports from friends and colleagues of extremely dire conditions. The ongoing siege of Gaza means that a lack of electricity, heating oil, potable water, sewage facilities, garbage collection and other essential infrastructure is exacerbating the conditions of an environmental health disaster. Tens of thousands of people are still homeless, and at least three infants and one man have frozen to death, and others have died in fires as a result of being forced to rely unsafe heat sources.

Please give to support the urgent humanitarian relief work of the Middle East Children’s Alliance.

It’s hard to find words that adequately describe the utter destruction we witnessed. Everyone had a story that broke our hearts, and each story revealed another layer of what it is like to seek to live in Gaza.

We met Imad, a nurse who works full time and hasn't been paid for a year. When asked how he and his family survive with no income and so many mouths to feed, Imad explained that everyone in Gaza does what they can to help others. He then shrugged his shoulders and posed the question we heard often, "What can we do?"

Imad's question, "What can we do?", echoes with us.

This summer JVP members came together to raise our voices against the atrocities taking place in Gaza. Under siege and suffering from the worst storm in years, the situation is still urgent today.

Please join us in a renewed urgency and commitment to continue our work for justice by donating to support the humanitarian relief work of the Middle East Children’s alliance today.

Maxine Fookson and Ned Rosch
Jewish Voice for Peace Portland

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