A convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza has been stopped at the border crossing from Libya into Egypt.
The Road to Hope convoy has travelled four and a half thousand miles so far but is currently at a standstill, with direct communication with the outside world being limited, and access to the internet very difficult.
Although the convoy has been waiting at the Libyan/Egyptian border since October 26th, over the last two days increasingly positive communications with Egyptian officials made the convoy participants more optimistic.
"All of the North African governments have been extremely accommodating and the people of each nation even more so,” said the organizers of the convoy in a press release.
“We must give special praise to the Libyan government for its constant support; when the convoy have had challenges, including breakdowns of vehicles, the authorities here have provided the means to repair those vehicles and continue our mission."
Convoy leader Kieran Turner showed optimism for reaching Gaza soon.
“One reason for our optimism that we will travel the land route is the fact that the Al Quds convoy, a Libyan convoy also delivering aid to Gaza, is set to travel the land route in the coming days,” he said. “For several weeks we have hoped to join our convoys and travel together.”
“Although the outlook for an expeditious approval to proceed with our mission is likely, we have always been prepared for the ups and downs and challenges that have been commonplace when attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. If we were to move forward in the next day or two this would be one of the most trouble-free convoys yet.”
Road to Hope is a non-political, non-confrontational convoy which has been initiated from Britain on October 1, 2010 and traveled through dozens of nations taking its way to Gaza through North African countries. The convoy comprises of 30 vehicles and 101 humanitarian aid workers, eight of whom are survivors of the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara flotilla on May 31, 2010.
"We call on all the supporters of Palestine to support Road to Hope and the Al Quds convoys by spreading awareness of our missions and encouraging Egyptian cooperation,” said Ken O'Kefee, one of the eight participants from Ireland.
Other UK flotilla survivors participating are Laura Stuart, Ibrahim Musaji, Ali Awasi, Babu Zanghar, Tauqhir Shareef, and Sakir Yildrim.
