NAZIHA BOUSSIDI

Tunisia- Since a national campaign calling for donations for Palestinians launched in Tunisia, many Tunisian women have joined the ranks of the Tunisian Red Crescent, NGOs and governmental organizations to collect donations and humanitarian supplies for defenseless civilians in the Gaza Strip in order to be in solidarity with the women of Gaza. “Tunisian women have played an important role in collecting humanitarian supplies since the campaign was launched in the country,” said Buthaina Qaraqba, Spokesperson of the Tunisian Red Crescent. “Tunisian women did not hesitate to support this campaign. They have collected donations and humanitarian supplies. They assist Tunisian Red Crescent crews in packing and taping up cardboard boxes of humanitarian supplies that will be sent to the women and children of Gaza. They also encourage children to support the campaign. They visit schools and tell children how humanitarian aid is important.”

 ‘They work as volunteers’

Tunisian women work as volunteers despite all the difficulties, Buthaina Qaraqba added. “Tunisian women are strong women. They also worked as volunteers to provide humanitarian supplies to earthquake survivors when an earthquake that struck northern Syria on February 6 and to the people displaced by the floods devastated Libya's eastern city of Derna.”

Speaking about her volunteer experiences, she said, “I have worked for the Tunisian Red Crescent as a volunteer for more than 20 years. I balance time between my work and my children. My children always provide psychological support to me.”

‘The campaign was launched on October 9’

Speaking about the national campaign, she said, “The campaign was launched on October 9. The first plane loaded with 12 tons of medical supplies, antibiotics, resuscitation and emergency medications was sent to Palestine. Then, another plane loaded with 12 tons of food, infant formula, and medicines was sent to Palestine.”

They also provide support to injured Palestinians in Tunisia

Since October 7, many injured Palestinians have been brought to Tunisia for treatment. The Tunisian Red Crescent provides both financial and psychological support to them. “According to the figures, more than two-thirds of the injured are children. Women and children are targeted in this war because they are the future of Palestine. Israel targets women and children because it aims to destroy the future of Palestine. The injured people suffer from not only physical disabilities but also psychological problems. We do our best to provide psychological support to them.”

Buthaina Qaraqba thinks that what is happening in Gaza poses a threat to not only Palestinian children but also children all around the world. “Children follow what is happening in Gaza on social media platforms and they do not understand why children are killed in Gaza because they do not know what war is. My daughter always asks me why children are killed in Gaza. It is a difficult question to answer.”

Call for solidarity

At the end of her speech, Buthaina Qaraqba called on all women to be in solidarity with the women of Gaza. “The volunteers of the Palestinian Red Crescent play an important role. They work day and night to support people in hospitals and camps. We call on all human rights organizations to reveal the violations and crimes committed against civilians in Gaza.”