A Lancaster woman is eating just 300 calories a day to draw attention to the Middle East crisis as she calls for a face-to-face meeting with her MP.
Fariha Blockley, from Caton, said her decision to eat only one 300-calorie meal per day, for the past 18 days, is because "it is what the residents of Gaza have been slowly dying on since January".
Mrs Blockley, who describes herself as "a humanitarian and a pacifist", has called for an in-person meeting with Lizzi Collinge, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale.
“All I want is for Lizzi Collinge, to look me in the eye, woman to woman, and tell me why we are not demanding the aid trucks are allowed into Gaza," she said.
She said she has lost half a stone since beginning her protest, and said she is being monitored by doctors.
“This is one of the few actions I can take, I am fully able to make this choice,” she said.
“I just want to speak to her. All I’ve heard are words. Words aren’t going to save lives.”
A spokesperson for Ms Collinge (below) said this week: "As is standard practice for all appointments, when Fariha made the request to meet, she was offered a virtual meeting or phone call with Lizzi at the earliest possible opportunity but this was declined.
"Lizzi is currently out of the country but continues to be concerned for Fariha’s welfare and her team remains in contact with her directly, as they have been for over two weeks."
Mrs Blockley said: “I am not a dangerous person. I am a pacifist and a humanitarian. She is my elected representative. There is a right for us to meet.
“This is a catastrophic situation and it’s having an impact on the emotional wellbeing of constituents here in Morecambe and Lunesdale.
“I have been to Palestine myself. I have friends who have been killed out there. I have a lot of friends who have family out there.”
Mrs Blockley said she’d recently returned from Egypt where thousands of people from all over the world gathered to try to walk to Rafah, the border with Gaza.
“There was aid there, sitting rotting at the border, and they wouldn’t let it in,” she said.
“We just wanted to peacefully draw attention to what was going on."
Mrs Blockley, 50, told Beyond Radio she is a longtime supporter of human rights who has raised money to send aid to refugee camps and helped to organise local events highlighting the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
She formerly worked as a probation officer, and also for a sustainable food partnership and a refugee support charity working with people coming into the UK, including from the Ukraine and Sudan.
Ms Collinge said, on July 30, that she was "horrified by the appalling, unrelenting scenes in Gaza including starvation, more killings, and the abject suffering of children and babies" and "I welcome the steps being taken by the government including the dropping of humanitarian aid into Gaza in partnership with Jordan, getting injured children out of Gaza and into British hospitals, and strongly pressing for UN (United Nations) deliveries of aid to resume".
Morecambe-based reality show starring Tyson Fury up for National Television Award
Man and dog flee scene after attack on chihuahua in Lancaster
Mayor of Lancaster saddles up for charity race night
LISTEN: Personal trainers set for gruelling 100-mile three peaks charity challenge
Mum takes on a million steps to help school and toy appeal in memory of caring daughter
Student apartments plan revealed for derelict former Lancaster pub
Crunch meeting called to vote on future of Morecambe sports and social club
PHOTOS: New images reveal plan for major renovations at Morecambe's iconic Midland Hotel
Stunning new drone images show 100 'Eric Morecambes' on beach to celebrate centenary
Rescue team's warning after motorist cut off by rising tide
Trapped person freed from vehicle after crash in Heysham
Firefighters tackle house fire in Lancaster
Firefighters called to wildfire in Lancaster
UPDATED: Police put 48 hour dispersal order in place after report of stabbing and arrests in Lancaster
Eden Project Morecambe Hub set to open as start of work on site draws closer
Morecambe BID gets overwhelming backing to continue for another five years
Forces veteran launches campaign to stop demolition of former Morecambe bus shelter
LISTEN: "A thriving Winter Gardens benefits Morecambe"
New mural unveiled to brighten up crime hot-spot in Lancaster city centre
