PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 6, 2011
PGPF’s HUMANITARIAN AID CARGO TO GAZA FINALLY DELIVERED.
The Spirit of Rachel Corrie finally was allowed to berth at the El-Arish Port on Tuesday July 5, 2011 at 7.10 pm (Egypt time) for the unloading of the UPVC pipes to Gaza.
The cargo of 32 tonnes took almost 4 hours to be transferred to 7 awaiting trailers.
The humanitarian aid cargo will be taken to Ouja at the Israeli border where it will be reassigned to other trailers sponsored by the Palestinians to be delivered to Gaza via Karem Shalom. The impasse finally ended after Perdana Global Peace Foundation President, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad met the Prime Minister of Egypt, Dr. Essam Sharaf on June 29 in Cairo.
The Perdana Global Peace Foundation records with sincere gratitude the initiative taken by Dr Essam Sharaf , the Prime Minister of Egypt in enabling the cargo of sewage pipes to be delivered directly to the people of Gaza. The vessel left the Port of Piraeus, Greece on May 11 carrying 7.5 kilometers of UPVC (plastic) sewage pipes to help restore the devastated sewerage system in Gaza. On board the ship were anti-war activists and journalists, consisting of 7 Malaysians, 2 Irish, 2 Indians and 1 Canadian. All of them have since been permitted to disembark on June 3, 2011.
On 16 May, the boat entered Palestinian territorial waters and was just 400 meters from land when it came under attack by the Israeli Navy. After coming under gunfire from the Israeli Navy, the boat was forced to divert to Egyptian waters; and later on the same day, anchored off El Arish Port where it remained for the last 7 weeks waiting for permission to dock. PGPF would like to convey our deepest appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia and especially to the Malaysian Embassy in Egypt for their assistance and cooperation throughout the ordeal. This humanitarian initiative is sponsored by the Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF).
About PGPF
The Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF), formerly Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO), is a first but resolute step in the arduous journey towards global peace, moves towards the single goal of putting an end to war.
Its founder, YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, envisages “a serious, active and sustained struggle against war and for peace”. Sharing and supporting this agenda are world-prominent professionals, intellectuals, authors, statesmen – all passionate advocates of international peace.
Together, they have signed the Kuala Lumpur Initiative to Criminalise War. “The Palestinian struggle is nothing more than a struggle for justice, to which they, as much as everyone else, have a right.” Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, President of PGPF.
Visit our website at www.perdana4peace.org
Contact: Maizatul Akmar Mohd Naim 019-6631366/603-20927320 Head, Corporate Communications & Media, PGPF
