Sudden disasters – like the Tsunami that flattened swathes of the South Asian coastline in 2004, the earthquake that rocked Haiti at the beginning of the year, or the floods currently decimating lives and livelihoods in Pakistan – rightly attract a great deal of media attention and international sympathy.
But other humanitarian disasters play out over much longer periods of time, involve political oppression rather than natural disasters, and only capture the world's attention when something truly remarkable takes place.
The Palestinians living in the Gaza strip are in a perpetual disaster zone. Effectively imprisoned by complete Israeli control of their borders, suffering huge economic consequences from enforced trade restrictions, and with thousands living in temporary accommodation, the suffering in Gaza has led to repeated attempts by humanitarian convoys to break the import embargo and bring vital aid.
But when a flotilla taking food and medical supplies to Palestine in May tried to reach Gaza, it was ambushed by the Israeli military, killing at least nine civilians. This devastating event focussed the world's attention once again on the ongoing plight of the Palestinians in the Gaza strip, and this week, the newly formed 'South Wales to Gaza' campaign brought a survivor from the ambushed aid flotilla to Cardiff to tell the inside story of the lethal attack.
Survivor tells Cardiff audience of the attack
The under-publicised but well-attended event took place in Cardiff University on Thursday 12 August, and the opening remarks of Greg Cullen (organiser of the event and member of the South Wales to Gaza group) set the tone for the evening.
Cullen was keen to emphasise that this was not a politically motivated campaign. He said:
"People always want to ascribe political motives to attempts to help the people of Gaza. But this is a humanitarian, not a political campaign. Gaza is a prison camp of 1.5 million people, and they desperately need international assistance."
Ibrahim Musaji, who survived the Israeli attack on his ship the Mavi Marmara, echoed Cullen's sentiments by explaining to the audience why he was on the ship in the first place.
"People always ask me – why did I choose to go to Gaza? Why didn't I go to Haiti or some other disaster area? And I tell them that it is because nowhere else in the world is blockaded like Gaza. Nothing can get in or out, so the people who live there don't get help. There were youngsters, married couples, elderly people, a Priest, journalists and activists on board our ship. And we had a big sign on the side stating that it was carrying humanitarian aid – just in case anyone got the wrong idea".
An articulate, young, British Muslim from Gloucester, Musaji seemed understandably nervous at first to recount the events that took place on the Mavi Marmara. But as he described how the jovial atmosphere on the boat turned rapidly into panic and fear as masked soldiers descended from helicopters in the middle of the night, it was clear that the night of the 31 of May (and the traumatic days that followed it) would stay with him for a lifetime. He said:
"It was about 4am when we first heard people screaming 'they're coming', like something from a film. We were expecting to be intercepted by the Israeli patrols at some point, and we had seen their naval ships nearby. But then those ships turned off their lights, helicopters began crossing back and forth over our heads, and before any Israeli soldier had even boarded the ship, the first shot was fired."
Cegdet Kiliclar, a journalist, was shot dead. At least eight other members of the aid flotilla were killed that night. Many more were seriously injured, with one person said to still be in a coma. Despite initial media reports that the soldiers were provoked by activists on board to open fire, no weapons (except knives from the kitchen, poles, and ropes) were found on board.
But astonishingly, this was not the end of the traumatic events. "We were held without any explanation for 18 hours, and not permitted to go to the toilet" said Musaji,
"I spent 25 hours in a desert prison, and was interrogated about whether I was from Al Qaeda! I mean honestly, if someone had said to me two years ago that I'd be in an Israeli prison in the desert, being accused of being a terrorist, I'd have laughed at them. I'm a youth support worker!"
Musaji's frank account of the events that took place on the 31 May and beyond stand in stark contrast to the Israeli version of events. The United Nations recently began an inquiry into the incident. But facing the prospect of the soldiers involved in the attack being called to testify, Israel has threatened to withdraw.
The South Wales to Gaza campaign is aiming to raise 10,000 over the next month to fund a South Wales contingent to join a land convoy to Gaza, hoping to repeat the success of previous overland convoys. "Wales has a history of fighting oppression" said Greg Cullen, "and I appeal to the people of Wales to help fight the oppression in Gaza that is taking place right now. There is a land convoy going to Gaza in the autumn, and we urgently need money for medical supplies and food."
A planning meeting for the land convoy is being held on Thursday 19 August at 6.30pm in Cathays Community Centre. For more information about the South Wales to Gaza campaign, contact psc.gazaconvoy2010@gmail.com, and to donate or support the campaign in any way go here.
Today's guest blogger Adam Corner is a writer and researcher in Cardiff. See his personal blog at 100monthsandcounting.blogspot.com.
