Convoy Organiser

international | miscellaneous | news report Friday January 08, 2010 08:42 by John Hurson - Viva Palestina

Ireland To Gaza

Report on the "Viva Palestina Humanitarian Aid Convoy".
On Wednesday January 6th, 2010, 517 volunteers in 200 vehicles delivered humanitarian aid to the stricken region of Gaza.
Despite many obstacles, they completed their journey which started out from London on December 6th.

On Wednesday 6th January 2010, 517 members from 20 different countries in 200 vehicles crossed through the Rafah Border into Gaza to amazing scenes of celebration. Close on 100,000 people lined the streets into Gaza city to welcome the "Viva Palestina" Humanitarian Aid Convoy.

The convoy left London on December 6th, and had travelled through Europe, then Turkey, Syria and Jordan. They reached the port city of Aqaba, Jordan on December 24th, however, they were refused permission to continue to Gaza, a journey of 5 hours. Instead, they had to make their way back up to Syria, a journey of 700kms in order to ship all our vehicles to El Arish. From there, 4 flights were required to fly all the volunteers to El Arish to meet up with their vehicles.

On Tuesday 5th, everyone was reunited with their vehicles in the port of El Arish. At 5pm, the Egyptian Government reneged on their witten deal and refused to allow 59 vehicles to proceed into Gaza.

They walked out of a meeting, and instantly, over 2,000 riot police surrounded the compound containing the vehicles and volunteers. Hundreds of volunteers staged a peaceful protest at the gates, and after a few hours, they were attacked by the police with tear gas, bricks, stones, and baton charged. 60 people were injured, and 20 needed hospital treatment.

The following morning, tensions had been reduced and a decision was made to send all the banned vehicles back to Syria and Lebanon to Palestinian Refugee Camps. At 4pm, the 1st of the vehicles started to roll out of the port to make the 40 km journey towards the border, and at 7pm, the gates at Rafah opened and the convoy completed it's final leg of their trip into Gaza.

Following a reception at the border, the "Viva Palestina" convoy rolled into Gaza City. A distance of 20 kms took over 3 hours as upwards on 100,000 Palestinians lined the streets to welcome the Convoy.

This was the 3rd "Viva Palestina Convoy" to break the siege on Gaza inside 1 year.

Today, all the vehicles and aid was handed over to various charities and NGO's. There were very emotional scenes as people said goodbye to their vehicles which had become their homes for the past month on the road. The appreciation from the Palestinians is very hard to put into words, such was the emotions they displayed. For people from all over the world to travel to Gaza in order to deliver aid, really means so much to the stricken region. This was solidarity on a grand scale.

Tyrone man, John Hurson, delivered Gaelic goalposts, jerseys, footballs, DVD's and books to the newly formed Gaza GAA club. Very soon, children in Gaza will be kicking points and scoring goals, and trying to emulate the skills of their President, Peter Canavan. In an offical hand over, the club were delighted to recieve all this support, and are looking forward to seeing Peter visit Gaza very very soon. Lets hope his Co President Professor Noam Chomsky pays a visit as well.

Tomorrow, the convoy members will leave at lunchtime, and return home to their families. The convoy has been an incredible success, and today in an official reception, they were told that a street in Gaza is to be re named "Viva Palestina Street". This indeed is a great honour, and a lasting tribute to the success of the convoys.

Convoy contact details:

John Hurson 0044 7875 396 335