ACTION ALERT
For Immediate Release
December 11, 2006
Al-Awda's West Coast Refugee Support Committee Emergency Programs
December 10 marks the 58th anniversary of The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. A day later on December 11, 1948, The United Nations General
Assembly passed Resolution 194 to call world attention to
the fact that the Declaration had already been breached by
the imposition of the Zionist state and the expulsion of more than three
quarters of a million of the indigenous inhabitants of Palestine. This
heinous act was followed by the assassination, by a Zionist terrorist squad,
of UN mediator, Count Folke Bernadotte. He had been sent by the UN to work
for the refugee's safe return. Resolution 194 demands that the State
of Israel not interfere with the safe return of Palestinians to their homes
and lands, with compensation.
After 58 years, the Zionist occupation, land theft and the world's longest
standing refugee problem, continue.
On the anniversaries of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UN
Resolution 194, Al-Awda's West Coast Refugee Support Committee met to
discuss how to further its plans. The committee had been constituted one
week earlier in Riverside California at the Second Al-Awda West Coast
Regional Conference. It aims to focus on two primary programs:
. To provide material and other support for the severe health care situation
in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
. To develop emergency aid mechanisms and active educational and advocacy
programs related to the dire situation of Palestinian refugees affected by
the current US occupation and conflict in Iraq.
The following are the decisions the committee reached yesterday:
1. Al-Awda's West Coast Refugee Support Committee will develop informational
resources including fact sheets, talking points etc related to the grievous
Palestinian refugee situation in Iraq and nearby countries. These resources
will be developed over the next few weeks and made widely available,
including on Al-Awda's West Coast websites. This information will also be
submitted for posting to Al-Awda's national and international websites as it
becomes available.
2. Al-Awda's West Coast Refugee Support Committee will hold a community
meeting regarding the Iraq Palestinian refugee situation starting at 3 pm on
Sunday 21 January 2007. The meeting will take place at Al-Awda's national
office in Carlsbad, North County San Diego. The goal of the meeting is to
develop a wider community-based coordinated campaign of support to include
educational, fundraising, media and other local and national advocacy
efforts. Individuals and organizational representatives will be invited to
attend. Further information on this important community meeting will be
posted soon.
3. The Committee will immediately begin raising funds to help alleviate the
disastrous situation of Palestinian refugees in Iraq and nearby countries.
Donations will be solicited on an ongoing basis. Individuals wishing to
donate to the *Iraq Emergency Fund* may do so electronically by going to
http://www.al-awdacal.org/donate.html and following the instructions. Please
indicate *Iraq Emergency Fund* with your submission. Alternatively,
checks or money orders may be addressed to Al-Awda, PRRC, PO Box 131352,
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA. Please indicate "Iraq Emergency Fund" on the check
memo line. All funds raised will be directed to support the refugee's needs.
4. The Committee will support and encourage a sustained and coordinated
Al-Awda regional, national and international effort to help alleviate the
current predicament of the Iraq Palestinian refugees including but not
limited to contacts with the media, and Arab, UN, and US government
representatives.
For further information, or if you live on the West Coast and would like to
assist with the work of Al-Awda's West Coast Refugee Support Committee,
please write to us at refugee_support@al-awdacal.org or at the address
below:
Attn: West Coast Refugee Support Committee
Al-Awda - PRRC
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad CA 92013, USA
Tel: 760-685-3243
Fax: 360-933-3568
E-mail: refugee_support@al-awdacal.org
WWW: http://al-awdacal.org
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition (PRRC) is the largest
network of grassroots activists and students dedicated to Palestinian human
rights. We are a not for profit tax-exempt educational and charitable
501(c)(3) organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of
the United States of America. Under IRS guidelines, your donations to PRRC
are tax-deductible. |
