The organizing committee of the “Miles and Smiles 3” campaign decided to give the participating convoys the names of solidarity activists who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the just and humanitarian cause of Palestine,and to lift the siege imposed on Gaza since more than four years.

Dr. Issam Yousef ,the general coordinator of “ Miles and Smiles 3” in a statement to “humanitarian voice” ,said that a number of participating convoys coming from European countries will carry solidarity names like Vittorio Arrigoni , and the American Rachel Core.

“Miles of Smile 3” is expected to include a number of relief and humanitarian convoys from various European countries, and each will carry the name of one of solidarity activists who died in Gaza Strip to honor them and recognize their role in supporting the besieged people of Gaza.

The general coordinator indicated that the aim of this step is to highlight the role played by the solidarity activists in defending the humanitarian issues of the Palestinian people, and for their sacrifices that cost them their blood and lives.

Dr. Yousef added that the simplest form of recognizing the great role of those activists is to commemorate them , in addition to underline the eternal sacrifices that will remain live in the memory of Palestinian people and world’s free people.

He explained the importance of boosting the morale of solidarity activists and volunteers who are still steadfast in the Palestinian territories to confront the Israeli oppression ,practiced on daily basis against the Palestinian people.

It’s worth to mention that preparations are afoot for kicking off the convoy “Miles of Smiles 3” to Gaza , laden with medical equipment , and missing medicines, with a total cost estimated at two million dollars, while the organizing committee is still waiting for approval of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry for the passage of the convoy via Rafah crossing to Gaza.

The campaign “ Miles of Smiles 3” comes after the first and second convoys of Miles of Smiles that were crowned with success,and succeeded in breaking the siege to deliver the relief assistance for those needy people in Gaza.

The convoy will be launched under the auspices of His Excellency Salim Al-Hoss, former Lebanese prime Minister ,in his capacity as chairman of the international Campaign to Break the Siege on Gaza, organized by Partners for Peace and Development / Europe, in cooperation with The International Solidarity Campaign with Gaza Children, The United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA), and The Red Crescent.

The campaign, according to its organizers, seeks to contribute in achieving a number of objectives e.g. delivering some kinds of missing medicines in Gaza due to the continued siege, providing a second batch of vehicles for the use of those with special needs, in addition to Providing certain medical equipment for Gaza’s children that are not available in Gaza medical centers.

The organizers also seek to check the health sector in Gaza Strip that suffers from the continued Israeli siege for the fourth consecutive year, besides conveying the real living situation of Gaza children through documented pictures taken by the accompanying delegation consisting of 30 prominent figures, representing humanitarian and civil institutions from various world countries.

It’s worth to mention that "Miles of Smiles 2" succeeded in entering to Gaza on August 2010 and stayed there for many days to identify the situation, while it included 45 solidarity activists from various European countries, in addition to 46 scooters, and medicine with total value of one million Euros , from various European relief and charities.

In November 2009,” Miles of Smiles I “ had succeeded in entering to Gaza Strip and delivered quantities of medical equipment , medicine, and electrical wheelchairs for those with special needs in Gaza.

AB.