Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, XXV: "poetry"
do you still believe
that poems are stronger than fireballs
a Gazan poet asks
in daymares, I see a narcissus
entwined around my mind
FYI: This is a sequel to the following tanka:
Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, XVIII: "Rafah"
attacks on Rafah ...
will the sound of bombings
echo, echoing
in the ears of the World
thousands of miles away
Added: Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, XXVI: "aid airdrops"
aid
out of reach air ops
dr
and a dead child’s stare
FYI: Democarcy Now, March 4: U.S. Airdrops Food to Gaza While Arming Israel to Drop Bombs
Palestinian health officials say at least 16 children have died in recent days from starvation and dehydration as Israel’s assault continues. UNICEF warns the number of child deaths will likely “rapidly increase” unless the war ends.
And BBC News, March 5: Gaza aid airdrop: Why delivering food from the air is controversial
"Airdrops are expensive, haphazard and usually lead to the wrong people getting the aid," Jan Egeland, the secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council and a former UN aid chief, told the BBC after returning from a recent three-day visit to Gaza.
Airdrops are seven times more expensive compared to ground-delivered aid due to costs related to aircraft, fuel and personnel, says the WFP.
In addition to that, only relatively small quantities can be delivered with each flight, in comparison to what a convoy of lorries can bring in, and significant ground co-ordination is required within the delivery zone, says the WFP.
The Guardian, March 8: Five killed and 10 injured in Gaza aid airdrop when parachute fails to open: Package ‘fell down like a rocket’ on roof of house near al-Shati refugee camp where people were waiting, a witness says
And Haaretz, March 9: UNRWA Accuses Israel of Forcing Agency Staff to Falsely Admit Hamas Links
A report by the UN agency details allegations of severe physical beatings, waterboarding, and threats of harm to family members.
Added: Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, XXVII: "donkey feed"
rain clouds darkening ...
Gazan children sift through feed
as a donkey does
FYI: Democracy Now, March 7: Ceasefire Talks Falter as Famine Plagues Gaza, Aid Remains Blocked by Israel
The group Refugees International is warning Israel’s persistent blocking of humanitarian aid into Gaza has created “apocalyptic” conditions inside the besieged territory. At least 20 Gazans have starved to death; the youngest victim was just one day old.
a soup kitchen volunteer in Rafah, Mohammed Al-Dalu: “Our hearts are being squeezed when a child comes over and says, 'I want to have rice and chicken.' We are unable to provide rice, let alone chicken, in light of the war that we are experiencing. This is not only a war on civilians. It is a war on food, on starvation. People here in the Gaza Strip cannot find bread to eat.”
And Democracy Now, March 7: Biden Quietly Approves 100+ Arms Sales to Israel While Claiming Concern for Civilians in Gaza
Added: Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, XXVIII: "bombshell shards"
winter deepens
bombshell shards glinting
at the crescent moon
reprinted on Haikuniverse, March 11 2024
