Global Justice Syria News – Washington – Sullivan Gaudreault:
A working dinner held in Washington, D.C. last Wednesday evening brought together the American organizations SETF (Syrian Emergency Task Force) and Global Justice to organize the next steps of their partnership and reinforce their cooperation.
The dinner was attended by representatives from both organizations, as well as guests from the Syrian American community from various states. Discussions focused on the ongoing collaboration between SETF and Global Justice, which began last year with Global Justice’s support for the “Syrian Oasis” initiative launched by SETF to break the siege of the Rukban camp in the Syrian desert.
Global Justice has supported the Rukban camp with educational aid, funding and printing 11,000 school books delivered by the U.S. military through the Ain al-Asad base in Iraq and the Tanf base near Rukban. They also financed the construction of schools for children and covered the monthly salaries of the camp’s teachers for the current academic year, helping over 8,000 Syrians suffering under a harsh siege imposed by Assad forces, Iranian militias, and the Russian army.
With the success of their existing partnership, the Syrian American Initiative (SAI) was launched, bringing together various Syrian and Syrian American organizations such as the Democratic Arab Coalition and HEUC in New Jersey. The collaboration has expanded to include advocacy and lobbying in Congress and various U.S. institutions, leading to the establishment of a joint official office for both organizations in the Willard Building in Washington, D.C.
This partnership was further solidified by a special visit to the Rukban camp by Dr. Haytham Al-Bizem, President of Global Justice, and Mouaz Moustafa, Executive Director of SETF, on U.S. military aircraft. It was the first time a “doctor” had been able to reach Rukban to conduct free medical examinations and provide medical assistance.
Global Justice and SETF are preparing to rehabilitate the “Dar Al-Shifa” in Gaziantep, southern Turkey, through the Turkish and Syrian north licensed organization Dünya Adaleti, in coordination with the Turkish Ministry of Health. The facility, which treats Syrian patients from within Syria, continuously hosts men, women, and children, providing medical aid, housing, psychological support, and financial assistance before referring them to Turkish hospitals. Global Justice and Dünya Adaleti aim to support the ongoing “Dar Al-Shifa” project, established by SETF years ago, by restructuring and renewing its equipment to the highest medical standards.
Mouaz Moustafa told Global Justice Syria News, “Dar Al-Shifa represents a significant humanitarian effort that we have consistently supported to help patients suffering from chronic illnesses requiring special treatments.” Dr. Haytham AlBizem emphasized that “cooperation in humanitarian cases is inseparable from joint political work, with both aspects strengthening each other to support Syrians individually and the Syrian cause as a whole.”
Global Justice Project Director Maissa kabbani highlighted that “the organizations are committed to setting an example of cooperation among the Syrian American community, based on transparency and sound scientific principles that will undoubtedly lead to positive outcomes,” praising SETF’s significant role in innovating and supporting legislation related to the Syrian cause, such as the Caesar Act, Captagon Acts 1 and 2, and the Anti-Normalization Act. Additionally, the “Hope for Syria” Act, which the organizations announced was included in the defense budget early last month in a joint statement with C4SSA.
“Dar Al-Shifa” in Gaziantep has welcomed many guests, experts, and politicians who visited to observe patient conditions and meet Syrians from within Syria. Notable visitors include Republican Congressman French Hill, accompanied by Republican Representatives Ben Cline and Scott Fitzgerald, who participated in Global Justice’s annual event. French Hill commended Global Justice for honoring Jerry Adams with their annual award for his humanitarian efforts for the Syrian people. Hill, in a press statement to Global Justice Syria News, expressed his pleasure in attending the annual event in Gaziantep and pledged to continue working in Washington on the Syrian issue and its future, expressing his joy in visiting “Dar Al-Shifa” in Gaziantep
