Northwest Relief Groups' Efforts Stall as Fighting Rages in Gaza

By Richard Read

The Oregonian, January 5, 2009

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Mercy Corps workers are distributing local stocks of blankets and plastic sheeting in Gaza, when possible amid the fighting.
Forty-five Palestinian relief workers for Northwest aid organizations are hunkered down in Gaza, unable to receive food and supplies from outside to help desperate families.

Mercy Corps workers are distributing local stocks of blankets and plastic sheeting in Gaza, when possible amid the fighting. But the Portland-based organization had to cancel a 4-ton food shipment planned Monday from Jerusalem because the border was closed.

Staff members for World Vision, based in Federal Way, Wash., are staying put at home with their families as Israeli forces close in on Gaza City. Medical Teams International, of Tigard, has no workers in Gaza, but is preparing three shipments of medicines and equipment worth almost $1.9 million for the region this week.

"It's just unconscionable and dire what people are experiencing from a humanitarian standpoint," said Allyn Dhynes, World Vision communications and advocacy manager for Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

Dhynes, based in Jerusalem, but visiting family in Portland, said World Vision advocates an immediate cease-fire and diplomacy. Mercy Corps isn't taking political positions, but spokeswoman Joy Portella said an interruption of hostilities would help civilians.

Staff members for all three humanitarian organizations said aid distribution would be difficult and dangerous, even if supplies make it inside. Gaza residents are reluctant to leave their houses, even as food, electricity, heat and water run short.

World Vision and Mercy Corps have sustained no casualties or injuries among their workers in Gaza. But family members of several Mercy Corps staff members have been hurt, Portella said, and some relatives have been killed.

"It's getting increasingly hard to move goods around the country," Portella said. "We would call upon the Israeli government to give immediate humanitarian access."

Neither Mercy Corps nor World Vision has expatriate workers in Gaza. Access for foreigners has been limited for months.

Mercy Corps managers in the region are exploring possibilities of sending aid through Egypt. They want to send family food packages including rice, soybean oil, dates, tuna and other canned goods.

World Vision aims to send food and blankets when possible. The United Nations World Food Program had wheat inside Gaza to distribute, Dhynes said, but those supplies have run out. Even before the latest fighting, he said, Gaza had shortages of food and supplies.

"It's pretty much been a big prison for 1.5 million people in unbearable circumstances," Dhynes said.

The 35-year-old aid worker, a graduate of Portland's Wilson High School and George Fox University in Newberg, plans to depart Portland Saturday with his wife and daughter for Jerusalem. World Vision has worked in Gaza since 1975.

"We condemn the rockets that are going out" from Gaza's Hamas, Dhynes said. "But this overwhelming response (by Israel) is extremely alarming."

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in The Oregonian