My good friend Eva Bartlett, who has been living and working in the Gaza Strip for the last few months, has just begun collecting money for emergency cases in Gaza. Please support this initiative!
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http://ingaza.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/please-consider-helping/
In moving around Gaza, during and post War on Gaza, I’ve met numerous cases who could benefit directly from financial aid. I’m aware that there are supporters of justice for Palestinians and of human rights in general who are asking where to send money.
Should any of you want to send money to any of the cases I’ve blogged about, I can promise that I won’t keep a penny/Shekel, but will pass all of it on to the intended recipient as requested. I’ve already used some of my own money for cases, but its far inadequate.
Some examples where a little money can make a large difference (depending, of course, on one’s concept of a ‘little money’):
-a new delivery van for Amer al Helo, the father whose baby girl and own father were shot dead in front of him. Formerly, he supported his family via his work delivering bread. The van was bombed, burned, during Israel’s assault on Gaza. His former van cost $15,000. I’m asking around to see how much a replacement van would cost, if available.
-rent for a small apartment for the Safi family, whose father is paralysed (of natural causes, a stroke) and whose home was destroyed (unnatural causes, the F-16ing of a 6 story house next door, which collapsed on and destroyed their own house). They’ve been crowding into a relative’s 2 room house but are on the verge of being expelled as the relative doesn’t have room for his own family.
-money for medecine for Maher Habashi: he needs 130 Shekels worth (roughly US $ 31, Cdn $39) of tablets every 10 days and tube of cream every other day at 60 Shekels (US $14.50, Cdn $18). Per month, then, he’s spending nearly 1300 Shekels (~US$310, Cdn$400) per month on medicine alone, not to mention the lost-income to his family’s regular daily needs.
-financial aid to the families of Mohammad al-Buraim and Anwar al-Buraim, farmers in the Khan Younis region who come from very poor families. Anwar, killed on 27 January by Israeli soldiers while he was farming, was the sole breadwinner of his family. Anwar’s cousin Mohammed, shot on 17 February by Israeli soldiers while farming in the same area as Anwar, is one of many children from a very poor family.
-financial aid to the family of Rafiq abu Reala, a fisherman shot in the back on 14 February by Israeli naval soldiers who attacked the small fishing craft just two nautical miles off Gaza’s coast. The exploding ‘dumdum’ bullets which broke into numerous tiny pieces lacerated his spine and punctured one lung. Rafiq’s family, including his pregnant new bride, were dependent on the income he added to the extended family. The fishing industry has been greatly destroyed by the Israeli-imposed siege, by the War on Gaza which damaged numerous fishing vessels, and most of all by the continual presence of Israeli gunboats patrolling Gaza’s waters and shooting on unarmed fishermen. This limits their ability to fish in deep waters, or at all, and means a much-diminished income.
Another means of directly impacting families if you are only able to give a limited amount for a limited time is to donate to me purchasing blankets to distribute to some of the areas I’ve been (that said, there are 1000s of families suffering from the cold, without adequate blankets and shelter. But one family at a time is better than nothing). I’m trying to find the average price for the remaining blankets in Gaza but based on what I’ve see thus far they will be around 150 Shekels (roughly just under $40). I will update this if a better price comes along.
I also welcome ideas from outside: if you have suggestions on how your donations should be spent, please let me know, I’ll see if it is possible to follow through on (depending largely on the availability of materials here).
I have a colleague here who is doing the same type of documentation and work as I. She also has put a call-out for funding for emergency cases [please note that her original call-out was in order to be able to stay on in Gaza to continue her work but now is for medical and poor cases] and has put her bank account details up for donations. For the sake of convenience, the easiest way would be either to deposit into her account with the amount, intended recipient (and any other details regarding the distribution of funds –eg. would like photo, to buy XXX) noted in an email to me.
Or
Money could be sent via Western Union which I can access [with an email to me to tell me the expected amount and name of sender and access number].
The McIlveen Fund (a multipurpose fundraising account with another signatory besides me)
The Co-op Bank (UK)
Account number 65244050
Sort Code 08 92 99
For international transfers, the following is needed:
International Bank Account Number: GB92CPBK
and the Swift/BIC code: CPBKGB22
Bank is: The Co-Operative Bank,
Address — 1 Balloon Street, MANCHESTER. M60 4EP. ENGLAND
If they ask for a reference, please give your name unless you prefer not to, so we can check anything later if needed.
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