10:30pm Saturday 11th July 2009
By Michael Black
Bradford’s Palestine solidarity campaigners who drove thousands of miles through Europe and North Africa to get medical supplies into Gaza in February are redoubling their efforts to send more aid when another convoy leaves the UK in October.
One of the Bradford people who drove with the Viva Palestina convoy was Mirban Aslam who drove to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza in February.
He said: “I was one of 250 Viva Palestina supporters who drove over 100 trucks, ambulances, fire engines and other vehicles loaded with medical and other aid through Belgium, France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt, into Palestine.
“We are going back on October 4 because we realised in February that the need was even greater than we could have imagined. We are concentrating this time around on medical supplies because the Israeli attacks have left so many people maimed and wounded that the hospitals are finding it difficult to cope.”
Bandages, surgical instruments, unused hospital beds, nappies and toiletries, books and stationery are some of the supplies the campaign is taking.
Vehicles are needed and the campaign is in touch with a number of companies about sponsoring them, said Mr Aslam.
Collection boxes as well as Viva Palestina T-shirts are being placed in shops.
A Bradford’s Got Talent contest will be held at the Girlington Community Centre on Tuesday, July 21, between 1pm and 7pm, which will be a unique ‘women and children only’ event, to raise money for the campaign.
Tickets are £5 and can be purchased at Miss Penny’s, 38 Duckworth Lane. Children can enter for free.
Bradford campaigner Karl Dallas is planning a fundraising concert in Bradford in September.
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