NPA in the Middle East
NPA supports a third way for Goldstone
“Norwegian People’s Aid’s (NPA) partners in Gaza are now extremely worried that the Goldstone report will be put aside. This would mean violations of their rights committed in the occupied territories yet again are documented, but get no consequences for the perpetrator. Thus make it easier for the occupying powers to commit new war crimes,” says Petter Eide, Secretary-General at NPA.
One year anniversary for NPAs all-female demining team in Jordan!
The 12th of October 2008, a group of women in Jordan began what seemed at the time as an impossible task.
NPA employee in Iraq found
Soran Q. Coste was found early this morning after being reported missing Monday. Soran Coste has been held against his will, and shows obvious signs of physical abuse. He is now receiving medical treatment, and is with his family.
Local NPA employee disappeared
Mr. Soran Q. Saeed Coste, who works for Norwegian People’s Aid in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq, went missing last Monday. NPA is concerned about his safety and well being.
NPA statement after the election in Kurdistan Region of Iraq
31th July 2009: Norwegian People’s Aid was an accredited international observer organization to the elections for parliament and presidency of the Kurdistan Regional Government taking place July 25th.
Portfolio 2009
The portfolio contains all countries we're currently involved in with Mine Action activities.
The Israeli election
Yousef is NPA's finance officer in Gaza. These are his views on the Israeli election.
Stars performs for Gaza
The staff of the Norwegian National Theatre came together on short notice to arrange a show in support of the people in Gaza. 34 actors, 20 musicians, 36 singers and one circus performer moved the audience to both laughter and tears.
Still waiting in Jerusalem
A team from Norwegian People’s Aid, led by Secretary General Petter Eide, travelled to Jerusalem yesterday in the hope of getting into Gaza as soon as possible. – We are far from the only humanitarian organisation waiting for Israel to open the borders and the frustration amongst aid workers here is considerable, says Eide.
NPA car hit by missile in Gaza
Friday night a drone missile hit a NPA car that was parked outside the house of NPA employee Mahmoud Hamada. Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterizes the attack as a violation of humanitarian law, according the Norwegian broadcasting NRK.
Stop Israeli war crimes
Statement from Norwegian People’s Aid: Israel’s current attack on the Gaza Strip is now into its tenth day. After several days of airborne attack, Israel has now commenced an invasion with ground forces.
The Norwegian Church criticises Israel
In a letter to the Israeli Embassy the Norwegian Church Counsil states that "Israel’s use of military power in Gaza in recent days is creating a totally unacceptable and immoral humanitarian situation".
New year in Gaza
It is really very sad and painful to start New Year writing about disastrous, miserable and mad war being launched against the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.
Civilian life under fire
NPA partner Democratic Worker’s Rights Center (DWRC) is in this text sharing a glimpse of the life of civilians in Gaza under Israeli fire.
Eid Greeting from Gaza Jail
It's shame to the world: Gaza is still under the siege and blockade. Gaza children can't be happy during next week's feast, Eid al-Adha.
Gaza back to the Stone Age
Palestinians in the Gaza strip; the most densely populated area in the world are now deprived from the basics of living.
The Free Gaza Movement arrives
On Saturday 23rd August 2008 just before sunset the two Free Gaza boats “SS Free Gaza" and "SS Liberty” arrived and moored in the Gaza wharf. International activists in human rights from 17 nations have arrived into Gaza in one of the most emotional events in the Gaza Strip since 1967. Its estimated that over 40,000 Gazans were in their reception.
One journalist's story: from triumph to torture
In an article for the Guardian, John Pilger describes presenting a top journalism award to a young Palestinian, Mohammed Omer, and how, on his return home to Gaza, he was seized by the Israelis, who demanded the prize money and tortured him.
Calls for an immediate ceasefire
– Israel must stop its attacks on the Gaza Strip. A ceasefire must be put in place with immediate effect, says Norwegian People’s Aid Secretary General, Petter Eide.
Norwegian investments contribute to collective punishment
Norway has invested 107 million Norwegian Kroner in an Israeli corporation used by the state of Israel to afflict collective punishment on the Palestinian population in Gaza. Norwegian People’s Aid demands that Norway withdraw from the corporation.
–Egypt shows solidarity
–By allowing Palestinians to cross the border at Rafah, Egypt is giving a clear invitation to the world community to show a wholly different level of solidarity towards the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip. Norway must follow suit, says Secretary General of Norwegian People’s Aid, Petter Eide.
NPA partner honoured
The Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq recently honoured Ms Khandan M. Jaza for her book “An Ocean of Crime”, which highlights the problems faced by women in the Kurdistan Region.
No to increased trade with Israel - let Gaza live!
– Norwegian People’s Aid condemns Israel’s closure of the Gaza Strip and the collective punishment of the population by cutting gas and electricity. Collective punishment is a clear violation of international law. Israel is still the occupying power on the Gaza Strip. It is high time due that the international community holds Israel responsible for collectively punishing 1,5 million people, says Finn Erik Thoresen, Secretary General in NPA.
Solidarity with the Palestinian people
The staff of NPA Rwanda took the challenge and arranged a collect in the office in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Purple lines
For quite sometime I was preventing myself from writing thinking that what is happening in Gaza is a minute incident that will rapidly come to an end. Nonetheless, things sustained and it seems that they will never end.
Women and Participation
I was invited yesterday to participate in an open meeting of one of our projects which is Women and Participation in the middle area of Gaza. The meeting was to evaluate the status of the neighborhood committees and to discuss whether those committees are meeting the demands of women in the middle area or not.
Palestinian workers
We are very close to the 1st of May, which will be the international Labour Day. Some local servants, municipality employees and governmental employees went on strike, as they did not receive their salaries for elongated periods.
Spirit of giving
Sometimes you feel lonely, desperate, frightened and unhappy; every one of us has a dark moment made him feeling miserable. Let me talk about myself for example; two weeks ago I had experience of all those feelings, when I lost my faith in humanity and solidarity between human being, until I had a unique experience with humans. I want to share this experience with you.
The dreams of the white sail
After putting the final touches to the formation of the national unity government, which came following a series of grief and haunting incurred by the Palestinian people suddenly the Norwegian government sail lifted over the ship announcing its readiness to lift the siege which has been imposed on our land to lead the list of countries of the world and lead the Arab countries also.
Call for international recognition
The European network SOLIDAR is calling for international recognition of the new Palestinian government.
New Hope: A Palestinian diary
While I was walking in the main market in a refugee Palestinian camp, (where I live –Bureij camp), a woman stopped me and asked "Are you working with Norwegian People’s Aid?” “Yes”, I replied. “Why you don't ask Norwegians to help my daughter to get into Israel to have her medical treatment?”
About alleviating suffering
On 22 February, I went to visit the sites of one project in rehabilitation of agricultural sector in Palestine which is funded by Norwegian People’s Aid in the eastern part of Gaza city. I was accompanied by the site agronomist from our partner organization (Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees) PARC.
What does power mean now?
Wadad finds it hard to understand that Palistinians fight among themselves over power, while the real power to affect the lives of the Palestinians lie with Israel.
Sovereignty over the water's surface
"This occupation swallowed all the lands, freedom and the Palestinian youth", Ashraf writes in his diary. Ashraf works at NPA's Palestine office in Gaza.
Please stop fighting or our hearts will stop
Rawia Al Wari works for NPA in Gaza. Here are her touching diary notes about how the insurgesies affect people and the children in perticular. This is her cry for the world to react.
Youth protest against Israel
Three young Palestinians from Gaza were not allowed to leave Gaza to attend a youth conference in South Africa hosted by NPA.
Back to Gaza
Article published in the Norwegian newspaper Dagsavisen on the 1st of November 2006: Despite considerable protests, the Norwegian authorities decided to close down their office in Gaza during the term of the last government. The reasons for so doing were so thin and very few savings have been made. Norwegian People’s Aid and a number of other organisations argued that this was the wrong signal to send to the hard pressed population of Gaza and the Palestinian national authorities. It is therefore good news to hear that the present government has resolved to open an office in Gaza once again (as a sub-division of the representative office in Al Ram in the West Bank).
The dream of a generator
Rawia Wari works for NPA in Gaza. She has sent us this report from her daily life as a woman and a mother in Palestine right now.
Victims of cluster munitions in Lebanon
Every day, civilians are killed or wounded by the 300,000 to 500,000 unexploded cluster bomblets that litter Southern Lebanon after the Israeli offensive. A visit to a local hospital unveils endless suffering. NPA is now taking on the task of clearing unexploded cluster munitions in Lebanon, a crucial job to be done before full reconstruction can take place.
Survived the war; not the peace
Cluster munitions kill civilians in Lebanon. 13 year old boy Hadi stepped on a cluster submunition in Southern Lebanon just one hour after the ceasefire went into place. - My son is gone. What will I do without my son, asks his mother Wafaa.
NPA Lebanon updates relief and emergency aid reports on the web
NPA Lebanon updates the relief and emergency report on their wabpages daily
Last supply line bombarded
Friday 4 August Israel bombed four bridges along the main road north from Beirut to the Syrian border. Five people were killed. This road was the only possibility of getting supplies into Lebanon after all other main roads and the airport have been bombed. The seaway is also bombarded by Israel.
Pictures from a bombed Lebanon
55 local employees at NPA in Lebanon works hard delivering food, medication, matresses, water and other supplies to the Lebanese people. NPA's head of international department, Liv Tørres, visited the area and found a country where the people are powerless, angry and despaired. Even if many blaim Hizbollah for kidnapping the Israeli soldiers, they all rage over Israels bombardment, and the total destruction of their country, sending hundreds of thousands on the run. See the recent pictures from Lebanon.
"My... my... my legs."
In Gaza City, where many businesses have closed their doors, and the rest that remain open are struggling. Al Shifa Hospital is by far the busiest place all over. In the intense heat of Gaza's hottest summer days, dozens of men, boys, and journalists, hang out at the entrance of the hospital, waiting for the Red Crescent ambulances to unload the latest casualties which mostly arrive as small body parts... arms, legs, fingers, and even in some cases, not knowing, and wondering in horror, what body parts are left behind.
NPA stepping up efforts in Lebanon
An acute humanitarian crisis is imminent in Lebanon, but NPA staff is stepping up efforts to relieve the suffering and supply refugees with necessary food and medical supplies.
Aussies support NPA
Update from Lebanon 25 July
600 000 Lebanese people are displaced after the Israeli attacks. The UN states that there are 175 000 displaced children. 360 people are dead and 1500 wounded i Lebanon. Here is an update from NPA's Resident Representative, Wafa Yassir.
The latest news from Lebanon - 20. July 2006
NPA reprensentative Wafa Yassir is in Beirut, running our relief efforts. She reports on the latest developments.
Update from Lebanon 20th of July 2006
NPA reprensentative Wafa Yassir is in Beirut, running our relief efforts. She reports on the latest developments.
An update from Gaza 19 July 2006
The troubles are continuing in Gaza, and NPA-workers are on the spot.
