Medical aid denied entry into Gaza

Published yesterday (updated) 09/11/2009 18:12 [MaanImages]

Gaza – Ma’an –

Egyptian authorities denied a European medical aid convoy from "Miles of Smiles" en route to Gaza to unload its cargo and has been left waiting at Al-Arish Port.

Hamdi Sha'ath, head of the committee against the siege, stated that the director of Al-Arish Port told those travelling with the medical aid that they could not unload their cargo until Israel approved its shipment to the Gaza Strip.

Sha'ath further noted that a delegation representing the convoy had asked the Egyptian Red Crescent to facilitate the entry of the medical cargo into the Gaza Strip, highlighting that they had received assurances from the Egyptian authorities that the shipment would be permitted entry into Gaza.

In September, "Miles of Smiles" sent forty trucks loaded with medical equipment and wheelchairs to the Gaza Strip.

Egypt asks Miles of Smiles aid convoy to receive Israel’s approval to enter Gaza

[ 09/11/2009 - 11:56 AM ]

CAIRO, (PIC)--

Zahir Berawi, the spokesman for the European aid convoy Miles of Smiles, said Monday that the Egyptian authorities in Port Said asked the convoy organizers to receive Israel’s approval to enter the besieged Gaza Strip.

Spokesman Berawi explained that Ibrahim Siddiqi, the director of Port Said and El-Arish ports told them that the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) must approve the lists of the participants in the convoy and the humanitarian aid before unloading the cargos from the ships which have been docking in El-Arish port since last Thursday.

The spokesman pointed out that these new Egyptian restrictions were imposed after five days of waiting in El-Arish port at the pretext that there were other ships unloading goods at the port and after detaining the convoy at Port Said for 23 days.

The spokesman called on the Egyptian leadership to put an end to this long suffering experienced by dozens of peace activists from nine European countries.

The Egyptian authorities had refused to allow the convoy of Miles of Smiles, which was detained for about a month in Port Said, to enter Gaza by land and insisted it unloads its shipments by sea in El-Arish port before allowing it to enter Gaza as Egyptian officials earlier promised.

The convoy, which is organized by a European organization called partners for peace and development, is composed of minibuses loaded with medical assistance and wheelchairs in addition to a number of ambulances.