Gaza in Crisis: Support Palestinian Refugees Under Israeli Brutal Siege!

TAKAFUL: Palestinian Refugee Support Network
http://www.refugeesupport.org/

At holiday time, give a gift of empowerment and solidarity!

Many of our adopted families insist that their applications for support are not to seek sympathy or empathy, but rather to seek solidarity with their struggle for dignity and for a normal life that is not bound by occupation and siege. The poverty that is impacting the Palestinian people is not a result of a natural disaster or an economic crisis, but as a result of the Israeli occupation and siege policies imposed as a collective punishment.

TAKAFUL project is hoping to provide a community-based relief alternative, by providing unconditional financial support, not ruled by politics, from regular people like you.

 As that holidays approach this year, we hope that you will continue to consider TAKAFUL for your donations.

 The situation in Gaza Strip is as follows:

 -          Bread Crisis: The lack of propane gas (cooking gas), has caused the closure of over 70% of the bread bakeries in Gaza.  People stand in lines for over 4 hours per day to receive minimal bread rations, which often are insufficient for the family. Very limited quantities of corn and barley flour are usually mixed with a variety of grains used for animal feed to make bread, which is nearly inedible. 

 -          Fuel Crisis: A new phenomenon of home fires is causing tremendous damage, due to lack of information about alternative fuels such as dirty propane, kerosene and candles, the only source of fuel or lighting available.  Propane (cooking) gas is mixed with other types of fuel, causing hazardous and harmful fumes, and causing suffocation without sufficient ventilation. An alternative has been the kerosene-based heat, a method that has not been used since the 1920s that can only be used for making tea and coffee, but not for cooking meals.  Candles have also been used quite often as an alternative to electricity.

  -          Lack of Cash in banks:  The banks closed their doors two days before Eid Al-Adha holiday, due to lack of cash in the bank to pay salaries for over 150,000 employees.  The banks have promised to open their doors once Israel allows the cash to come in. If the situation continues, TAKAFUL organizations on the ground are working on alternative plans to secure cash flow to the families as planned even if the fees are higher.

 -          Pilgrims' Crisis:  Since 1948, no one has been prevented from going to the holy pilgrimage in Mecca, however, this year, many pilgrims from the Gaza Strip were stopped and deprived from the right to pilgrimage, and the Egyptian government was clearly pressured to prevent the pilgrims from crossing the borders

 -          Hospitals Crisis:  The electricity generator at Shifa hospital, a major hospital in the heart of Gaza Strip serving over 500 new patients per day, has broken, risking the lives of many of their patients.

 -          Blockade on Livestock – Qurbani: During the Eid al-Adha holiday, it is a custom to eat meat, and for people to donate 1/3 of their livestock to the poor. The Israeli blockade has prevented the entry of livestock into Gaza Strip which meant that Qurbani meat is not available for families this year. 

Please contact us for any questions or concerns you may have by calling at , emailing us at info@refugeesupport.org, or by mailing us at our addresses in the US or Europe.

TAKAFUL: Palestinian Refugee Support Network
http://www.refugeesupport.org/

US Address:

344 Grove St. Suite 131

Jersey City, NJ 07302

USA

Tel: 1-800-856-8147 

Europe Address:

Weisen Kinder Helfe Palestina  e.V
Tapachstrasse 89/A
70437 Stuttgart, Germany

Tel.  :
Fax  :+49 (0) 711 873345