(ANS - Gaza)- Yesterday, 23 July, the first order of drugs purchased through the joint fundraising of all the Italian NGOs in Palestine was delivered to the Shifa hospital in Gaza. Among these NGOs was VIS,  the International Volunteers for Development - a small glimmer of hope in the face of the "nonsense of wars," as the Rector Major said.

"Thanks to donations received from Italy we were able to order €20,000 worth of medicines and disposable products. The health situation in Gaza is tragic and we need everyone's help to assist the people. We thank all the Italian citizens who have responded to our appeal, demonstrating their generosity and sympathy with the victims of this new conflict." So say the aid workers on the ground.

Since 14 July, the day when the appeal for the drugs was launched, the Italian NGOs have been working in coordination with the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Health Organization and the Palestinian Medical Relief Society.

Service contracts were agreed with three Pharmaceutical companies - Birzeit Pharmaceutical Co. who delivered supplies yesterday; plus Al-Salam Co. Drug Store and Nobel Medical Supplies which will make deliveries today, 24 July.

A total of €20, 000 is being distributed - €12,000 in medication and €8,000 in disposable items  such as needles, syringes, sterile gloves…

According to the latest figures, the conflict in the Gaza Strip has resulted in 750 dead and over 4200 injured. The situation is dramatic and terrible, as shown in the pictures which reach every part of the world continuously through TV, internet and other media.

"THE NONSENSE OF WARS” is what the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime posted on Facebook, commenting on the heart-rending pictures of people who have lost children and family members in the bombing.  I DO NOT WANT TO GET USED TO these photographs. The horror of war and the death of innocents do not make sense. How far removed from our hearts are the Gospel and Peace.”

My dear friends, I invite you to REMAIN SENSITIVE, to share, to be critical of all this, at least in our immediate personal environments. I INVITE YOU TO PRAY TO THE LORD FOR PEACE, first of all in our hearts and in the places of conflict.

Exhortations to prayer and criticism of the conflict are reaching us from all over the Salesian world, in letters from Provincials and in comments on the social networks.

Meanwhile, it is possible to support the efforts of the Italian NGOs for the health of the population in Palestine through the account made ​​available by Terre des Hommes Italia.

Published 24/07/2014