He has been in intensive care for three weeks and lost 12 members of his family in the Rafah bombing in Gaza. Now he dreams of the day he can have artificial legs. Look at this half-starved kid smile, it just breaks my heart.
Please give to one of these Gaza relief organizations, as much as you can spare:
UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Organization for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) is the UN organization that runs those schools that the Israeli’s keep shelling, most recently two days ago when ten people were killed and many wounded, prompting U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to call it “a moral outrage and a criminal act.” UNRWA staff have been among the victims of this and other violence. Global News reports that the staff of UNRWA, which runs 82 schools and provides food, shelter to over 200,000 displaced Palestinians, are at a “breaking point” trying to deal with this humanitarian crisis. Tax deductible donations in the US can be made through US Friends of UNRWA, a 501(c)(3) .
For those who prefer to donate through a somewhat smaller organization,
The Jerusalem Fund is a Washington based 501(c)(3) that does cultural, educational and humanitarian work on behalf of Palestinians in particular those living in the Occupied Territories and surrounding refugee camps. Its “Humanitarian Link” gives small grants to needy hospitals, schools, orphanages and human rights groups. Its Emergency Gaza Appeal promises that 100% of donations to this appeal will be earmarked for humanitarian relief and rebuilding in Gaza.Another smaller but effective organization, Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) is a US-based non-profit humanitarian aid organization that has delivered millions of dollars in food, medicine and medical supplies to children in the West Bank and Gaza, Iraq and Lebanon. According to its web site, MECA provides financial assistance for community projects in the West Bank and Gaza such as sports teams, arts programs, English classes, computer technology, media training, playgrounds and psychosocial support. MECA is currently seeking emergency aid for children in Gaza– food, milk, medicine.
The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund has an urgent Gaza fund. “PCRF is responding to this ongoing crisis by identifying injured kids and providing them with critical medical care, as well as providing poor, displaced families with the urgent humanitarian aid that is needed.” Writes one donor on the site: “I hope this sand grain will be useful, somehow…”
Three other larger organizations that do critical work on behalf of the Palestinians are: Save the Children-Gaza Children in Crisis; Medecins sans Frontieres (call 1-888-392-0392 to earmark your gift to their Gaza relief efforts which appear to be mostly in the important area of trauma counseling); the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies); and CARE (West Bank/Gaza crisis).
A website called Gaza Siege lists these and other organizations that work in Gaza and seems very comprehensive both in terms of the relief organizations it lists as well as background and current information and reports.
Update: Since the August 5th posting of “Where You Can Donate to Help Gaza”, readers have identified a number of other organizations working to provide relief in Gaza, all of which really need support at this time of such unimaginable suffering at the hands of the Israelis: Medical Aid For Palestinians, a UK based organization; Catholic Relief Services , a 501(c)(3) which allows for earmarking donations to Gaza as a “special request” on its web site; ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid), a 501(c)(3) operating since 1968 with over 80 full time staff operating in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon; United Palestinian Appeal, a 501(c)(3); Islamic Relief USA, a 501(c)(3); and the Gaza Mental Health Foundation, a 501(c)(3) (contributions by check only/no credit cards).
Where we are. ISIS is contained to the east by Iran. To the north by Turkey. To the west by Tunisia. To the south by an ocean. Syria, Jordan and the Sinai (Egypt) are in play (the US has no role in these areas). Which means that for all intents and purposes Israel is surrounded. This battle has always been about Israel. What’s next? The al-Nusra Front (al-Qaeda) has chased Israel out of most of the Golan Heights. The people in Gaza and the occupied territories have been radicalized by the recent war. Hezbollah is always up for a fight with the “Zionist entity.” So the noose is tightening. Quickly. ISIS is after the oligarchy (1%) in every country. The 99% has little power so the extremist groups have only a passing interest in defeating us. They do have an interest in bringing the advanced democracies (quite possibly and oxymoron) back to the customs and norms of the 7th century. Which is a pipe dream. It didn’t work for the Nazis and it won’t work today. ISIS, et al have the 1% in its crosshairs. The 1% has the weapons, but it lacks the manpower. That’s where the 99% comes in. We’re suppose to sign up for one more of the oligarchy’s suicide missions. But, “It ain’t me babe. It ain’t me you’re looking for babe.” Capitalists may be the dumbest people on the planet.
Susie – thank you for posting these links.