CONVOY DETAILS

Exact details about the convoy itself are being arranged and will be shared over the coming weeks, but much has already fallen into place. Below are some answers to questions we have received from folks eager to participate:

1. I want to join, but I can’t get time off work or school for the full duration of the trip (approximately December 5th – January 5th). Does that mean I can't come?

   Not at all! Volunteers from the US will have the opportunity to join the convoy on either December 5th in London OR December 15th in Istanbul, Turkey. You will identify the city where you intend to join us on the registration form prior to submission and once you receive approval to join, you will be responsible for making your own flight arrangements to either London or Istanbul and back from Cairo to your home city. NO ONE will be able to join the convoy, at any stage, without the review and explicit confirmation of the organizers.

2. Can anybody register for the convoy?

   We want to encourage as many people from all walks of life to participate in Viva Palestina's mission and to offer support to the Palestinian people in Gaza. There is, however, a thorough application and review process and approval is not guaranteed. Once the registration form is available, you will need to complete it, provide references, agree to the terms of the convoy and pay the application fee. Viva Palestina coordinators will attempt to meet with and/or speak to every applicant prior to compiling a list of participants. The selection process is not intended to dissuade anyone from applying or participating, but instead to assure that the individuals who desire to come understand fully the significance of this journey, to answer any questions that arise on the application or about the convoy, and to assess the particular traits and skills that each participant will bring to the overall convoy prior to grouping individuals into teams.

   We also plan to hold orientations in October and training sessions in November in several US cities for those interested in applying and for those confirmed to participate in the convoy, respectively. Remember, the registration form will go online on our entirely redesigned website, www.vivapalestina-us.org during the week of October 5!

3. Do I need to have particular skills to join the convoy? I can't read Arabic, I know nothing about medicine and I’ve never had to replace a flat tire, let alone an alternator...

   No special skills are required to apply or to participate, but we have the understandable need for lots of mechanics and medical professionals to assist on the convoy. In addition, organizers, activists, educators and students will be encouraged to build relationships with one another that will endure beyond the convoy experience. If you're a survivalist with a good deal of camping experience or have done long-haul driving, we would appreciate your presence, too. If you can speak five languages and have done professional translation, then please submit an application! Simply put, everyone's relevant skills will be utilized and their participation appreciated regardless of their particular skill set.

4. How much is the whole trip going to cost?

   All applicants will have to pay a $150 (USD) non-refundable deposit to register, which will go towards the administrative costs of organizing the convoy. During the convoy itself, there will be "fixed costs" – such as road toll charges, ferry tickets for you and the vehicles you will be driving, and fuel costs – which we will give you an estimate for after the final participant list has been selected. There will also be "variable costs" - such as food, spending and vehicle maintenance – which could vary substantially and which cannot be easily anticipated. (Note: You may also want to buy goods and gifts in Gaza to help stimulate the local economy.) Roughly, however, each participant should attempt to secure funding/access to funding of approximately $1,000 to pay for the full journey (or approximately $750 if you're joining in Istanbul) in addition to airfare to London or Istanbul and a return flight from Cairo back to your home city.

5. Can I fundraise to help pay for my journey?

   Absolutely! However, you should plan to raise enough so you can also contribute to the funds being used to purchase vehicles and humanitarian aid to deliver to the people of Gaza. And you will need to make it clear to donors who either offer to sponsor you as a participant or who donate at a fundraiser that you are organizing if you will be using any portion of those funds to cover your own expenses.

6. Where will we be staying along the route?

   To keep costs low and flexibility high, and to avoid the time consuming process of dealing with hotels, we will be camping a majority of the way - staying in traditional camping facilities, sports facilities or other similar accommodations. Participants will be responsible for providing their own camping equipment, including cooking stoves and sleeping bags. There will be facilities en route to allow for some measure of personal hygiene and we will provide a checklist of recommended items to assist you in your packing, but remember that it will be winter and much of the route will be cold. Start planning now for the type of equipment and clothing you might need. You must stay with the convoy at all times and should not expect to be able to purchase equipment along the way. Our route organizers in the UK are making arrangements taking into consideration each road’s drivability, safety, access to food, water and facilities, etc.

7. Will the convoy really be allowed to enter Gaza?

   The leadership of Viva Palestina will pursue dignified and diplomatic routes to secure the admission of all of our volunteers, aid and vehicles into Gaza. The two prior convoys organized by Viva Palestina were both able to enter Gaza through Egypt's Rafah crossing, but there is never a guarantee that we will be able to enter Gaza when we want and with who and what we want. (Our July convoy faced significant difficulties and had to make a group decision to leave behind 47 newly purchased vehicles in order to enter – vehicles that we’re determined to take in with THIS convoy.) A key aspect of this humanitarian mission is to break the illegal siege imposed by Israel and get what is needed into Gaza. Everyone who intends to take part must prepare themselves for difficulties, delays and disappointments along the way. Of course, we should always keep in mind that these complications are nothing compared with what the people of Gaza endure on a daily basis.

8. What are we taking with us into Gaza?

   MEDICAL SUPPLIES:
   We have received requests from many medical groups and organizations in Gaza for specific items and continue to compile lists and make connections to make sure we can provide what is most needed. Please do not begin purchasing medical items – instead, concentrate on soliciting donations of conventional/universally-needed medical supplies and materials. If you are a member of or have contacts in a medical community in the US, Gaza or the other countries which we will be traveling through, we welcome your expertise and specific participation in procuring supplies. Viva Palestina firmly believes in the self-determination of the Palestinian people. In that, it is the people of Gaza who will determine how to distribute the donated and purchased items within their medical community. All items will be delivered and donated to one or more non-governmental organizations/committees of organizations to be dispersed within the medical community in Gaza based on need.

   VEHICLES:
   Vehicles are in great demand in Gaza after the devastating attack that destroyed machinery, ambulances, fire engines and other such civil service vehicles. The crippling siege does not allow for the entry of materials and equipment that could potentially repair these vehicles. In addition, the staggering number of casualties created an overwhelming need for vehicles to transport injured and maimed civilians to and from medical treatment. The first Viva Palestina USA convoy purchased 47 brand new vehicles which were prevented from entering Gaza in July. For the upcoming convoy, those vehicles will be transported from Alexandria, Egypt to Istanbul, Turkey and driven the remainder of the way to Gaza. This SHOULD NOT preclude groups from concentrating their fundraising efforts around the purchase of a vehicle for their delegates to drive OR donors from contributing to the purchase of additional vehicles.

9. How many vehicles do we hope to take into Gaza?

   There will be a cap of 250 vehicles from Britain in order to make the convoy manageable. We also expect a number of vehicles to join us from Ireland and en route through Europe. That number will be added to in Istanbul with the 47 vehicles purchased with donations from the US for the July convoy. The number of vehicles we need is directly related to the number of volunteers and medical supplies we have. By the time we reach Egypt, we hope the total number of vehicles will be between 300-350.

10. When can I expect to return back to my home in the US?

    We anticipate the actual journey from London to Gaza to take from December 6th to December 27th. We plan to be in Gaza for 3-4 days following our arrival at the Rafah border so as to not put any undue stress on the Gaza economy or its people. Barring major delays at the border, the estimated departure date from the area will be between December 31st and January 5th. That said, there are many who have already committed to staying at the Rafah border for as long as necessary to assure that our convoy is allowed to enter. Viva Palestina cannot guarantee the precise entry and exit dates, however, so keep that in mind when considering dates of your potential return. The nearest airport is Cairo International Airport about 4-5 hours away from Gaza so it is the option most will choose to plan their return flight.

11. I've heard about the Gaza Freedom March…does that have anything to do with Viva Palestina?

    Several organizations are planning a march through Gaza from the Rafah to the Eretz border to politically protest the siege on Gaza around the same time that Viva Palestina will be entering the area. Although we are in coordination discussions with the march organizers to assure both our efforts are independently successful, Viva Palestina is, principally, a humanitarian mission committed to delivering all of our volunteers, vehicles and medical aid into Gaza. If all goes as planned, we will be in a position for our volunteers to support the march if they so choose. However, 1) participants who enter into Gaza with Viva Palestina are expected to exit with us when we depart as a convoy, and 2) if one intends to join the march, the independent registration and confirmation requirements for both Viva Palestina and the March must be satisfied.