"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing"

- Edmund Burke

From Dec. 27 2008 to Jan. 8th 2009 (data from BBC & UN)

Palestinian dead = 765

Palestinians wounded = 3.100
Israeli dead = 14
Israeli wounded = 119

Neither 1 nor 1000 deaths are insignificant, no matter where they come from, if
they could be avoided.

Dear friends,

Almost one week ago, we received a call of attention and help from one of our NMOs
members, IFMSA – Palestine, regarding the terrible situation that's going on right
now in Gaza through different IFMSA servers. After that, a lot of replies from
around the world were sent from members of different NMOs expressing their
thoughts and sorrows and telling they wanted to do something, help in any way
possible.

We are an international network of medical students, and what attract us to IFMSA

is the possibility of actually being able to help where is most needed, to
actually be the change we want to see in the world (Gandhi) and achieve this not
by our own, but supported and hand in hand with students from around the world
that are inspire by the same things we are.

Call us idealists. We might be. But someone has to give the first step and right
now we're the firsts in the line. So, are we going to accept this call?

Some of us did. All of you involved in some way: the ones that have offered help,
the ones that have sent support messages, the ones that have found relevant to get
informed about the situation. All of you accepted the call for help.

However, is time to give actions to all the words that have been spoken. We cannot
be silent anymore. IFMSA has a great potential, and now is time to see what we're
able to do with it. IFMSA is apolitical, but is centered in humanitarian
principles, and now that we're facing a humanitarian crisis, is time to stand up
and show that we are more than words and good intentions.

This is why, after the lack of success in several intents to contact members of
the EB and the team of officials (except for SCORP-D recently) for the past week
from several NMOs to email addresses or servers regarding what would be done and
what could we all do related to the crisis occurring in Gaza-Palestine, and
considering all the replies there have been of people wanting to organize and
help, we feel morally obligated to begin an initiative as IFMSA.

Therefore we have brought back the IFMSA Emergency and disasters network (E+D)
once again and organized a committee that will coordinate the initiative (you will
get all the information after this email).

As the largest Students Organization in the world, representing 95 countries,

there are people from IFMSA in Gaza right now, members of a Local Committee of
IFMSA Palestine.

One of our main areas is Human Rights and Peace, so we have the responsibility to
formulate a Public Statement about the crisis that our family in Gaza is going
through.

The Commission forming the IFMSA Emergency + Disaster Network, Gaza Edition,
believes is time to take actions:
1. We can not remain impassive in the face of escalating violence that is
occurring on Gaza
2 .- We believe that it is not only a political issue as it is violating human
rights, which is restricting access to essential drugs, health, food and basic
survival elements.
3 .- We can not get used to hear in the news every day that dozens of people got
killed, and we do not want to remain indifferent to such cruelty.
4 .- We should put priorities first, giving importance to what is important; not
focusing only in bylaw changes, or organizing the best international parties.. NOW
is the time to put in practice what we preach!!

This is why we make a public call once again to hear what IFMSA got to say about
this officially.

We can't accept to remain silent.

And you?

IFMSA E+D Gaza Edition Committe

Andrea Srur
IFMSA - Chile President 2006/2008

Gaby Edgerton
IFMSA - Ecuador President

Raul Valiente Jaraba

IFMSA - Spain President

Ahmed Ghazy
IFMSA - Egypt President

Nada Qawasmi
IFMSA - Palestine President

Matan Hemli
FIMS - Israel President

"We not only dream of a better world, we roll up our sleeves and make a
difference".