It’s easy to focus too narrowly intense international situations. And forget that more folks care what’s going on than just the main players. So it has been with Israel’s Gaza invasion. And that’s why I’ve been spotlighting third-party food aid efforts…
One piece of truly world-shaking news this past week has involved the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza war. But the Gaza starvation crisis continues unabated. And it should be noted that third parties are still trying to pitch in and help…
Best efforts quashed
Celebrity Chef José Andrés was quick to deploy massive assets to Gaza when Israel sent its armed forces to cut the so-called ‘strip’ off from the world. The declared intention of the siege was to starve the Palestinian nationalist group Hamas of supplies, and destroy it. All the Israeli closure of Gaza’s borders really accomplished was to cut off international humanitarian aid.
Since then, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) has managed to destroy well over half of Gaza’s homes and businesses. That includes all of it’s important hospitals. And the continuing bombardment of alleged Hamas ‘strongholds’ by the IDF has also destroyed most of the food aid infrastructure third party op-erators were trying to maintain there. That’s resulted in a Stage 5 starvation crisis according to the World Health Organization and other global Aid groups.
First signs of ‘regrowth’
Now that the ceasefire has been called, at least one outside organization has renewed efforts to generate and distribute food and medical aid to Gazan citizens who have lost everything.
Swedish beverage brand Safadfood AB has stepped up, and launched a new soda brand specifically to help the Gaza relief effort. The product line, called Palestine Drinks, comes in cola, lemonade, orange soda, and three energy drinks flavours. And they’re all available in regular and diet versions.
All proceeds – 100 percent of each purchase – will be used to support Gazan relief efforts.
My take
Why should a Swedish soft drink maker want to help starving Palestinians? Its charitable founda-tion’s Mission Statement offers an explanation:
“Our mission is to empower individuals through compassion, providing hope and opportunities for a better future.”
Their program, as such, is a three-pronged effort addressing education, health care and sustain-ability.
Disclaimer:
Anyone who visits the Safad or Palestine Drinks or Safad Foundation websites will immediately notice that the company is an unabashed Palestine supporter – as the name ‘Safad’, itself, may suggest.
Before any dear reader jumps to condemn me and the FFB as pro-Palestinian (and probably antisem-itic, too), I hope they will consume and digest this message:
This news site and its proprietors will never take sides in any political or cultural dispute. In the true spirit of journalism and free speech, The Fab Food Blog (FFB) supports the right of all people to hold and express their own views on any and all issues of any kind.
The Fab Food Blog is committed to three simple principles: that everyone everywhere gets enough to eat every day; that everyone should know how to choose foods, cook them and feed themselves pro-perly; and that the world we all share will make it through the coming food apocalypse in one piece.
We believe any charitable efforts aimed at helping starving people anywhere in the world are equally deserving of our – and your – awareness and support.
~ Maggie J.