PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENT

to raise awareness in Canada  about one of our overseas partners,

the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS)

The Palestine Red Crescent provides on-going emergency medical services, primary health care, mental health and social services to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza as well as throughout the Diaspora.  During the past 2 years, in response to the Israeli Occupation Army aggression, the agency has increased the scope of its service delivery to include Disaster Services and International Humanitarian Law.

Mr. Younis Khatib, President of the PRCS, had been scheduled to come to Edmonton and speak at Humanserve's event after attending the Canadian Red Cross General Congress in Montreal as one of two guest keynote speakers at their Humanitarian Dinner.  Unfortunately, Mr. Al-Khatib was denied permission to travel by the Israeli authorities and hence was unable to fulfill his speaking engagements in Montreal and Edmonton in person.

Thanks to the high-tech capabilities of the University of Alberta's new lecture theatre classroom, we were able to establish a live phone-link and projected a PowerPoint presentation.  Thus, Younis was able to tell the audience about the challenges of delivering emergency medical services under siege and relentless curfews, highlighting some of the more innovative approaches that have been undertaken to ensure access to quality health and social services.  "During times of conflict, everyday people become heroes and the human capacity to thrive is strengthened."  His presentation was followed by a short question and answer period with the audience.

Our second speaker for the evening was Mr. Shane Dabrowski, a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Ft. McMurray Fire Department who spoke compellingly about his personal experiences working with the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance services.  Mr. Dabrowski was with PRCS in Ramallah/El-Bireh in the West Bank during a 6-month period (March to September 2002) working as a consultant to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and as an incident commander at the site of the Jenin refugee camp.

This lecture was co-sponsored by the University of Alberta’s Student's Union for their 2002/03 “Revolutionary Speakers” Lecture Series. 

In all, $395 was raised and will be applied to on-going HUMANSERVE relief and development projects.

See summary of HUMANSERVE's contributions to crisis relief during the Intifada:

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PO Box 37011

Edmonton, AB

Canada  T5R 1E0