Merciful Assistance
I visit www.thehungersite.com daily. Why not give free food to hungry people? After you click on the "Help Feed the Hungry," a thank you page comes up, which also lists their sponsers. Recently, I noticed that one of the sponsers was the MercyCorp, who were providing aid to people in Lebanon.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of helping the Lebanese people who don't have clean water and housing. But since I was feeling a bit contrary, I sent them the following email:
"I noticed that you are providing aid kits to displaced Lebanon refugees. What about those displaced in Israel? They are also in need of aid. Both sides of the current crisis deserve your help. Thank you."
I pushed "send" and promptly relegated that email to the back of my mind. I didn't really expect to hear back from them and besides, I had done my part in writing a letter in support of Israel.
So, a few days later I was very surprised to recieve the following:
"Thank you for your questions about Mercy Corps' response in the Middle East. One of the conditions for Mercy Corps' involvement in an emergencyis the local authority's inability to respond entirely by themselves. Israel has a highly sophisticated emergency response infrastructurewhich includes well-established medical, social and health safety nets. So far, Israel seems to be handling the current demands well. MercyCorps is a registered NGO in Israel and we have deep sympathy for the victims of violence and terror there. Should needs arise in Israel that require our expertise, we would mobilize to provide assistance.
In Gaza, a humanitarian crisis has been developing for many weeks and Mercy Corps has been providing food and medical supplies directly to the people who need them. These very vulnerable populations include the elderly, the disabled, orphans and the poorest of the poor. In Lebanon, both the UN and local authorities recognize the need for international humanitarian aid and the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs has specifically asked for Mercy Corps' support. In Lebanon, we have been providing food, clean water, and hygiene and infant supplies directly to those who need them. We want to be clear that Mercy Corps does not provide assistance through the Palestinian Authority, Hamas or Hezbollah.
Please see www.interaction.org for a comprehensive list of humanitarian relief agencies working in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon.
Regards,
Katie Moriconi
Mercy Corps"
This was a very interesting response on several levels:
1. "So far, Israel seems to be handling the current demands well." I have heard an overwhelming number of stories about the response to the Northern residents' plight, including a special delivery with help from Treppenwitz. A special Russian millionare, Arcady Guidamek, set up a camp for Internally Displaced Persons. Elite/Strauss and HAS Advantage sent "hugs" accompanied by chocolate bars to soldiers. The list goes on and on. The people of Israel (both Israelis and Jews around the world) sprang into action to help their fellows in a genuine outpouring of care. If a Jew in Kiryat Shemona is suffering, his brother in Australia suffers with him. Apparently, the Lebanese have yet to develop such a brotherly bond.
2. "Israel has a highly sophisticated emergency response infrastructure which includes well-established medical, social and health safety nets."
Israel stands out once again as the most developed country in the Middle East. Lebanon is unable to take proper care of it's citizens; it needs outside help in providing health care.
3."In Gaza, a humanitarian crisis has been developing for many weeks and Mercy Corps has been providing food and medical supplies directly to the people who need them. These very vulnerable populations include the elderly, the disabled, orphans and the poorest of the poor."
This to me is the most interesting point made here. Who was talking about Gaza? They had advertised their help for Lebanon, I had asked about Israel. But the humanitarian crisis in Gaza? Left field!
Well, not quite...It seems like no one can miss their opportunity to harp on the "humanitarian crisis in Gaza." Those poor Lebanese! Israel bombed them after they kipdanpped their soldiers! Oh, hey, Israel also wasn't very nice to the Palestinians...Those poor Palestinians!..."
Let's stay on track here - by all means, help the people of Lebanon. But leave the people of Gaza out of this.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of helping the Lebanese people who don't have clean water and housing. But since I was feeling a bit contrary, I sent them the following email:
"I noticed that you are providing aid kits to displaced Lebanon refugees. What about those displaced in Israel? They are also in need of aid. Both sides of the current crisis deserve your help. Thank you."
I pushed "send" and promptly relegated that email to the back of my mind. I didn't really expect to hear back from them and besides, I had done my part in writing a letter in support of Israel.
So, a few days later I was very surprised to recieve the following:
"Thank you for your questions about Mercy Corps' response in the Middle East. One of the conditions for Mercy Corps' involvement in an emergencyis the local authority's inability to respond entirely by themselves. Israel has a highly sophisticated emergency response infrastructurewhich includes well-established medical, social and health safety nets. So far, Israel seems to be handling the current demands well. MercyCorps is a registered NGO in Israel and we have deep sympathy for the victims of violence and terror there. Should needs arise in Israel that require our expertise, we would mobilize to provide assistance.
In Gaza, a humanitarian crisis has been developing for many weeks and Mercy Corps has been providing food and medical supplies directly to the people who need them. These very vulnerable populations include the elderly, the disabled, orphans and the poorest of the poor. In Lebanon, both the UN and local authorities recognize the need for international humanitarian aid and the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs has specifically asked for Mercy Corps' support. In Lebanon, we have been providing food, clean water, and hygiene and infant supplies directly to those who need them. We want to be clear that Mercy Corps does not provide assistance through the Palestinian Authority, Hamas or Hezbollah.
Please see www.interaction.org for a comprehensive list of humanitarian relief agencies working in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon.
Regards,
Katie Moriconi
Mercy Corps"
This was a very interesting response on several levels:
1. "So far, Israel seems to be handling the current demands well." I have heard an overwhelming number of stories about the response to the Northern residents' plight, including a special delivery with help from Treppenwitz. A special Russian millionare, Arcady Guidamek, set up a camp for Internally Displaced Persons. Elite/Strauss and HAS Advantage sent "hugs" accompanied by chocolate bars to soldiers. The list goes on and on. The people of Israel (both Israelis and Jews around the world) sprang into action to help their fellows in a genuine outpouring of care. If a Jew in Kiryat Shemona is suffering, his brother in Australia suffers with him. Apparently, the Lebanese have yet to develop such a brotherly bond.
2. "Israel has a highly sophisticated emergency response infrastructure which includes well-established medical, social and health safety nets."
Israel stands out once again as the most developed country in the Middle East. Lebanon is unable to take proper care of it's citizens; it needs outside help in providing health care.
3."In Gaza, a humanitarian crisis has been developing for many weeks and Mercy Corps has been providing food and medical supplies directly to the people who need them. These very vulnerable populations include the elderly, the disabled, orphans and the poorest of the poor."
This to me is the most interesting point made here. Who was talking about Gaza? They had advertised their help for Lebanon, I had asked about Israel. But the humanitarian crisis in Gaza? Left field!
Well, not quite...It seems like no one can miss their opportunity to harp on the "humanitarian crisis in Gaza." Those poor Lebanese! Israel bombed them after they kipdanpped their soldiers! Oh, hey, Israel also wasn't very nice to the Palestinians...Those poor Palestinians!..."
Let's stay on track here - by all means, help the people of Lebanon. But leave the people of Gaza out of this.
posted by Tempo at Monday, August 21, 2006
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