The donation centre in Brussels to help the people of Gaza has already collected 500 pallets of material donations since opening almost two weeks ago.
The City of Brussels turned Palace 1 of the Heysel into a donation centre in mid-April due to the "drastic situation facing the people of Gaza and the numerous reactions from citizens calling on the authorities to show solidarity." An appeal was launched for organisations and citizens to collect material donations, mainly hygiene items, such as nappies or soap, but also milk powder and sleeping bags.
"Before this, the City of Brussels had already been active in disasters that had taken place in Turkey, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco and Ukraine by making palaces at Brussels Expo available to organise humanitarian aid," City of Brussels Mayor Philippe Close explained.
"We have therefore decided to do the same for the people of Gaza, with Defence and Development Cooperation." Making Defence a partner in the project reassures donors and volunteers about the credibility and future delivery of donations to the people of Gaza.
'Great enthusiasm'
Not even two weeks later, 500 pallets measuring 130 cm in height have been collected – the equivalent of 700 tonnes in material goods. "The enthusiasm for this collection is great," Close added. Every day, between 100 and 200 volunteers come to help, putting goods in boxes, plasticising them, and driving the cars into the depot.
"What is happening in Gaza now leaves no one unmoved. People want to help," said Caroline Gennez, Minister of Development Cooperation. Since the start of the war on 7 October, around 35,000 people have died and around 75,000 have been injured in the Gaza Strip, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Gennez added that the ministry is in touch with partners in the region and local NGOs to ask what equipment is most needed and what the needs on the ground are.
The collection will run until Sunday 5 May, and Palace 1 is open every day from 10:00 until 20:00. Additionally, it is possible to support the Palestinian population by donating to the CHU Saint-Pierre Foundation (BE32 0689 0234 0002), which will fund their medication costs. It has already raised €39,500.
