Derry men stranded on mercy mission
Desperate efforts were being made last night to help five Derry anti-war campaigners who have been refused entry to Egypt.
Jonathan Crockett, Danny Doyle, Eddie McBride, Derek McChrystal and Eanna O'Donaghaile are part of a convoy delivering vital supplies to Gaza and were due to arrive at their destination today.
However, the group - who had driven an ambulance from Derry with vital medical supplies - spent Christmas Day stranded in Aqaba in Jordan after being refused refused permission to enter Egypt.
They remain stranded, as efforts are made worldwide to persuade the Egyptian Government to lift its ban on the convoy proceeding.
The Derry Anti War Coalition (DAWC) has asked all local politicians to contact the Egyptian embassies in London and Dublin to demand that the Viva Palestina convoy- be allowed to deliver its humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The convoy had set out from London on December 6th and had hoped to enter Gaza from Egypt today - the first anniversary of the Israeli attack on Gaza last year.
Now, instead of allowing the convoy to travel, as arranged, from Jordan to Egypt, it's understood the Egypitan authorities are demanding that it turn and drive 500 miles back through Syria, and then take a 24-hour ferry through the Suez Canal - and then ask Israel for permission to cross from Egypt to Gaza.
The DAWC has announced a rally in solidarity with the convoy and with the people of Gaza in the Diamond in Derry this afternoon (Sunday 27th). Speakers at the rally will include Suliman Fehardi, from Gaza, and Mira Dabit from Ramallah on the West Bank.
In a statement, Eamonn McCann of the DAWC said: "The position the convoy has been placed in is disgraceful. The DAWC is proud of the effort we put in to buy and fill the ambulance and of our five Derry representatives who are with the convoy. The people of Derry can be proud of the support they gave us in our fund raising for the convoy over the past six months. We want to ensure now that the people of Gaza receive the aid which has been sent from Derry as from towns and cities all over these islands and further afield.
"We urge all political representatives to make their voices heard. We ask individuals to contact the Egypitan embasies at Dublin 6606718 or 6606566 or via consular@embegyptireland.ie The London embassy can be contacted at 020-7499-3304."
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Weather for Derry
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 8 C to 12 C
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