One of the seven humanitarian workers who died tragically in an Israeli strike in Gaza is a Quebecer who grew up in the Beauce region and who had just had a son, we have learned THE Newspaper.
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“He was such a cheerful person in life and always ready to help others. He was always in solution mode when faced with problems. He helped everyone, all the time, around him,” Jonathan Duguay testifies with emotion, about his friend Jacob Flickinger.
Photo provided by Jonathan Duguay
The latter was killed in cold blood on Monday, while he was volunteering for the humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen (WCK). Mr. Flickinger, 34, had been distributing food to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since early March.
Jonathan Duguay (left) and Jacob Flickinger during a humanitarian mission for the World Central Kitchen organization in Mexico in November 2023.
Photo provided by Jonathan Duguay
His death and those of six other volunteers from his humanitarian organization caused consternation around the world. Note that the Israeli army admitted on Wednesday a “serious error” after their airstrike.
The car used by the American humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen, which was hit by an Israeli strike on April 2, 2024. The Quebecer is believed to have died during this tragedy.
AFP
“We know that there were three strikes on their vehicles. I don’t have any more details. I was in Cyprus during this mission [pour acheminer de l’aide à Gaza par bateau] and I heard the news at 3 a.m. I quickly flew back to Quebec to help his family,” explains Jonathan Duguay.
Another car used by the American humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen where we can see the impact of an Israeli strike on Monday.
AFP
A valiant veteran
The name Jacob Flickinger, who has dual American and Canadian nationality, has been in the news since the tragedy.
According to his friend, the Quebecer grew up in the town of Saint-Georges in Beauce. He then lived in Stoneham and had just recently moved with his family out of the country.
Jacob Flickinger, his wife Sandy and their one-year-old son.
Screenshot of the website www.gofundme.com
“We both served in the Canadian Army and we went to serve together in Afghanistan,” explains Mr. Duguay. That’s how we first knew each other.”
Mr. Flickinger, member of the Royal 22e Regiment, would therefore have brought its military expertise to its humanitarian missions.
The Quebecer, surrounded by children, during a humanitarian mission in Mexico in November 2023.
Photo provided by Jonathan Duguay
“I was the one who convinced him to join the World Central Kitchen organization. It was his second humanitarian mission, he also did one in November 2023 in Acapulco in Mexico,” says Jonathan Duguay, on the line.
Help for his son and his wife
The death of the 34-year-old father disrupted the lives of those close to him, but especially those of his wife Sandy and his one-year-old son.
“He was the one who brought home the money and his wife is now alone without a job. We wanted to give him a helping hand,” confides Mr. Duguay.
A crowdfunding campaign to support the bereaved family of the Quebecer who died in Gaza this week.
Screenshot of the website www.gofundme.com
So he launched for the bereaved family. In less than 12 hours, he raised nearly $22,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.
“Our goal is above all to ensure a future for his son who no longer has a father,” concludes Jonathan Duguay, while recalling the generosity of Jacob Flickinger, he who was ready to take all the risks to help, even if it meant dying. .