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Help Hussam
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August 14, 2009
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Gaza Strip |
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War |
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40 min. |
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Documentary |
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Human rights |
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Digibeta /
DVCAM / HD / HDV |
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27th December, 2008: Israeli jets start pounding the Gaza Strip in ‘Operation Cast Lead’. By its end, on 18th January 2009, close to 1500 Palestinian civilians have lost their lives. Among the wounded is Hussam el-Deen Shaker al-Koli, 28, a firefighter from Gaza city who has been hit by enemy fire while securing a besieged building during a temporary cease-fire. His serious injuries and subsequent medical complications cause the young Palestinian to lose his right leg. In poverty-stricken and isolated Gaza, Hussam can only dream of a prosthesis which would allow him to walk again and thus provide for his family… The firefighter’s story featured in Weast Productions’ documentary ‘Gaza: liberi di morire’, which was originally commissioned by Swiss Foundation Monte Verità and which was filmed in the immediate aftermath of the conflict. On the occasion of the doc’s première on 4th April, 2009 Hussam’s personal ordeal greatly impressed the 300-strong audience and prompted Monte Verità Foundation to form a committee with the aim of helping him. With the assistance of Swiss authorities, the committe successfully negotiated Hussam’s transfer from the Gaza Strip -an exceptional event indeed!-. On 13th August, 2009 Hussam was thus escorted to the Egyptian border, directed to Switzerland. In the next six weeks, he will undergo treatment in Lugano and receive a state-of-the-art prosthetic leg. The ‘Help Hussam’ initiative was officially presented on 13th August, 2009. The Committe will take charge of all of Hussam’s medical and living expenses during his stay, and is currently raising financial contributions. For more information, please contact Monte Verità at: + 41 (0)91 785 40 40. Video sequence from "Gaza: liberi di morire". |
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