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Clogher Diocese raises money for Gaza Hospital
Clogher Diocese raises money for Gaza Hospital
Through the Clogher Diocesan Board of Mission, nearly £9,500 has been
sent to aid the work of the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. The appeal was issued
from the Diocesan Board of Mission in January, in response to the scenes
that many of us witnessed in the Middle East over the season of Christmas,
.
In a statement on 30th December 2008, the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem,
the Right Revd Suheil Dawani, who visited Clogher Diocese during 2008, referred
to the situation in Gaza, when he said; “… we are greatly grieved
by the severity of the ongoing military operations in Gaza that are occurring
in heavily populated areas and impacting the civilian population.
As a Diocese with well over a century of an unbroken commitment to the well
being and peace of the community in Gaza City through our Al Ahli Arab Hospital,
we are both stunned and saddened by the events unfolding in Gaza.
The heavy loss of Palestinian lives and the serious wounds and injuries
to many hundreds of innocent bystanders require the immediate cessation of
hostilities for the well being and safety of both the Palestinian and Israeli
communities, and especially for Gaza and the nearby Israeli population centres.
The gravity of the situation threatens to engulf this entire region and we
ask the Palestinians and Israelis to return to active negotiations for the
well being and safety of both communities.
Of immediate concern is the urgent medical services needed by the victims
of this violence. The immensity of providing care for the injured and wounded
is overwhelming a healthcare system struggling to provide essential healthcare
services for 1.5 million Palestinians, most of who live in refugee camps.”
The funds have been raised through collections which have taken place in
churches throughout the Diocese of Clogher, and funds are still coming in.
The following letter of appreciation was received on 15th March 2009 from
the Rt Revd Suheil Dawani, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem
I wish to thank all who came on the recent pilgrimage with Bishop Michael
and all the donors who contributed to the generous donation of £9,496.43GBP
for their interest and support for the work of our Diocese, most particularly
in the contribution for the Ahli Hospital Medical Emergency Fund. As you
know, a majority of the people of Gaza rely upon aid for the health and welfare
of their families. With the continued restrictions on goods entering Gaza
and the recent loss of factories and other businesses in the conflict, the
conditions for civilians is yet more difficult.
As patients in Gaza are beginning to recover physically and move toward
rehabilitation, there is an ongoing need for additional medical care and
social service assistance during the relative calm of this Cease Fire. We
are hopeful that the situation will continue to improve and that we may be
able to transfer some patients to our hospital in Nablus, West Bank, where
we can offer surgeries and rehabilitation services not possible in Gaza.
We appreciate your partnership as we all represent the One Body, working
together in peace and reconciliation to alleviate the suffering of people
in need. Please continue to join us in prayer for the people of Gaza.
Please find a receipt for your donation included and thank you again for
your support.
With best wishes,
+Suheil
The Rt. Rev'd Suheil S. Dawani
Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem
Bishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem
Coffee Evening for Gaza in Carrickmacross
Date: 9th April 2009