Third-World-News Blog: ‘Miles of Smiles’ convoy stopped at Port Said and prevented from going to Rafah

http://www.factjo.com/FACTJO_en/printable.aspx?id=2725

'Miles of Smiles' convoy stopped at Port Said and prevented from going to Rafah

Fact International

By Mohammad Al Hurr

Port Said - The 'Miles of Smiles' European humanitarian aid convoy which arrived from the port of Hamburg was prevented by the Egyptian authorities from entering Gaza Strip.

Egyptian authorities told the officials of the convoy to move their convoy from Port Said to the Al Arish port and thereafter to the Rafah crossing.

An official of the 'Miles of Smiles' convoy said that the decision of the Egyptian authorities 'was not expected.'

"This new decision will need a long time; especially that Al Areesh seaport is not ready to receive 'RORO' ships, which carry cars."

According to an official security source the Egyptian authorities decided to change the land arrangements of the convoy into sea travel to protect members of the convoy and the trucks which accompanied them.

The source stated that 'sea travel will be safer, also a huge convoy like this, which intends to travel to Al Areesh, needs security arrangements in the three governorates of Port Said, Isma'iliyya and North Sinai. These arrangements will need at least two days or more to deploy policemen on the road between Port Said and Rafah, until the convoy crosses into the region.'

Fact International is aware that 'high level European authorities' are contacting Egyptian officials to cancel the decision but results of these contacts have not been positive until this moment.

Many European supporters have arrived at Cairo airport to accompany the convoy from Port Said to go to the Rafah Crossing.

The European 'Miles of Smiles' aid convoy left the port of Hamburg for Port Said, Egypt, on the 28 September. The convoy comprises 110 motor vehicles, medical supplies and equipment, hundreds of wheelchairs, including schooling supplies and 50 computers.

This campaign is organized by 'Partners for the sake of peace and development' in cooperation with the international campaign to end the blockade of Gaza, which is headed by Dr. Salim Al Hus, the former Lebanese Prime Minister.

The convoy is called 'Miles of Smiles' to grant smiles to the children of Gaza, especially the physically disabled.

The European humanitarian aids convoy, which came to support the Palestinians of Gaza Strip after the 'cowardly' aggression of Zionist Forces, encountered many obstacles and difficulties.

The 'Long live Palestine' convoy, which was headed by the British MP "George Galloway," was the first convoy harassed by the Egyptian authorities and some unknown groups like the "Ghosts of Samih Al Madhoun."

'Al Amal' European group also encountered obstacles and were prevented by the Egyptian authorities to go to Rafah.

Source: Fact International

Resources : FI 20.10.2009

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