Iran Red Crescent to send three aid ships to Gaza

[FarCenter]

Monday, June 7, 2010
TEHRAN - Agence France-Presse
The Iranian Red Crescent said on Monday that it will send three aid ships to Gaza in the latest bid to break the blockade imposed on the Palestinian territory by Iran's archfoe Israel.

It will also send a plane carrying 30 tones of medical equipment to Egypt for onward delivery to Gaza. Red Crescent director for international affairs Abdolrauf Adibzadeh told Iranian media that two ships would leave for Gaza this week, followed at a later date by a third vessel.

The first two ships will head to Gaza in coordination with the Turkish government. Of the two ships, "one will carry 70 aid workers such as nurses and medics and the other will have foodstuffs and medicines," Adibzadeh was quoted as saying on the state television website. "The (two) ships will be sent to Gaza by end of this week," Adibzadeh told the state IRNA news agency.

The news agency said the third vessel would be equipped with an onboard operating theatre and would head for the Palestinian territory at a later date. Adibzadeh said the Red Crescent had called for Iranian volunteers to act as relief workers and accompany the first two vessels.

<SNIP>http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=iran-sends-aid-ships-to-gaza-2010-06-07

[Catherina]

1. Good for them. Too bad the US can't stand up for innocent people n/t

[aquart]

3. Like the Haitians, for instance?

Whose trouble did not come upon them because they chose murder as a weapon to retake land they'd lost?

The Haitians are innocent. We seem to be helping them.

The Palestinians? Innocent? Not so much.

But I personally applaud the late concern of fellow Muslim nations for the plight of their brothers. Where have they been?

Understand, when you make yourself a political football, you get kicked.

[Recursion]

5. "The Palestinians" aren't innocent?

What percent of the Palestinian population do you think actually engages in armed resistance?

[Catherina]

7. If you can't make sense, go take a nap n/t

[JDPriestly]

8. Iran is just causing trouble by trying to run the blockade.

They will be stopped and boarded like every other ship. They had better not have any military supplies on board. And they had better not be armed.

[Recursion]

2. If they have to go through Suez anyways...

...why not just stop there and bring in the goods through Egypt, since the Egyptian border is open now?

[aquart]

4. LOL! Because he doesn't care if they get the aid or not.

Persians don't love Arabs. Ahmadinejad is desperate for anything to unite his people around. Hating Israel is a mid-East standard, he's working it hard. It would probably work better if the college kids who hate his guts didn't believe he was using Hezbullah Palestinian mercenaries to beat them up.

[brendan120678]

6. Because it's more important...

to make the Israeli government look evil than it is to actually help the Palestinians suffering in Gaza.

[FBI_Un_Sub]

9. I have no problems

IF AND ONLY IF they strictly abide by the ICRC's "Seven Principles"

The seven Fundamental Principles

Proclaimed in Vienna in 1965, the seven Fundamental Principles bond together the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, The International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. They guarantee the continuity of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and its humanitarian work.

Humanity
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavours, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

Impartiality
It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Neutrality
In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Independence
The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.

Voluntary service
It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

Unity
There can be only one Red Cross or one Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

Universality
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide.

---http://www.ifrc.org/what/values/principles/index.asp">The Seven Fundamental Principles

I have been a Red Cross Disaster Services volunteer for seven years.