Indonesian Citizens Donate Blood For Gaza

Cairo, Egypt, July 21 (Antara) - Indonesian citizens in Egypt have conducted a blood donation drive for people in the Gaza Strip that will be sent through the Egyptian Red Crescent Society. The blood drive was held along with Alquran Blessing Day 1435 Hijr and in cooperation with the Indonesian Embassy, Indonesian Mosque in Cairo, and Indonesian Students Unity of Egypt, the Chief of Social and Information Sector for the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, Windratmo Suwarno, said here on Monday. Embassy officials noted their appreciation of those Indonesian people who have donated blood, according to Windratmo. There were 49 people who registered to donate blood, however, only 41 people were healthy enough to donate. The Indonesian ambassador to Egypt, Nurfaizi Suwandi, praised the efforts of the Indonesian blood donors. Nurfaizi said Palestinian civilians, including children, housewives and the elderly, need blood because Israeli attacks are still claiming victims. The ambassador noted that the Indonesian 1945 Basic Regulation states that independence is a right of all nations, which is why the Indonesian people support Palestinian independence. "The Indonesian people fully support the Palestinian people to gain the rights of independence because what is going on is contrary to human principal in the world, particularly in the modern era," Nurfaizi said. The Indonesian Students Unity in Egypt also collected money to provide assistance for the Palestinian people. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has stated the country continues to seek international support to halt Israeli military aggression against Palestine through peaceful diplomacy. xxThere have been 2,500 Palestinian people injured, along with hundreds of casualties. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated at least 80 percent of those killed during attacks were civilians.