Hi - I'm James and am hosting this fundraising page for Mahmoud Alfarra and family in Gaza to raise money to rebuild their homes. First you'll hear from Mahmoud (in Arabic and then the English translation) and then more from me on my connection with the Alfarra family. Thank you for reading this and responding.

محمود الفرا؛ أستاذ جامعي مؤثر في قطاع غزة. تعرض منزله للاقتحام والتدمير الكلي لكافة محتوياته وبنيته الداخلية، مع تجريف أرضه بأشجارها المثمرة التي يصل عمرها لأكثر من خمس وعشرين سنة وكذلك تعرض منزل والدته وأهله لأضرار إنشائية بالغة جعلته غير قابل للاستخدام في الظروف الطبيعية.

نتيجة لذلك تدمِّر جزء حيوي من بيته المنشئ على طابقين مع تخريب تام لمحتويات البيت من أثاث ومرافق، وفقد بيته كل شبكات الكهرباء والاتصالات والماء.

لقد احتاج محمود للعمل الشاق لأكثر من 15 عاما في قطاع التعليم العالي والعمل الحر والعمل عن بُعد ليتمكن من بناء بيته وتشجير أرضه بمختلف أنواع الأشجار؛ وتمكن فقط من الانتقال لبيته قبل عامين من الحرب على غزة ولا يزال ملزم بدفع الأقساط الشهرية.

لقد بات محمود بلا مأوى مناسب له ولأطفاله، ويعيش على ما تبقى من منزله بعد قيامه بأعمال صيانة بوسائل بدائية.

لقد تسببت الحرب والتهجير القصري لمحمود من بيته في توقف عمله في وزارة التربية والتعليم العالي وكذلك أعماله الحرة في التدريب المهني، وبالتالي توقف راتبه منذ بداية الحرب (أكثر من 16 شهر) حاله حال كثير من موظفي القطاع الحكومي في غزة.

هذا كله جعلني أتوجه بالطلب لكم لمساعدة محمود على إعادة ترميم وبناء منزله ومنزل والدته وإعادة تشجير أرضه ليتمكن من مواصلة العيش في غزة، فهو لديه قناعة تامة في ضرورة البقاء هناك ولا يرغب في ترك فلسطين تحت أي من الظروف ليواصل عمله في التعليم الجامعي والتقني.

إن كان يمكنك ذلك، آمل أن تساهم معي بما يمكنك من تبرع أو من خلال نشر قصته لكل من تستطيع.

ما يحتاجه محمود لإعادة ترميم وبناء بيته وبيت أمه وتأثيثهما وإعادة تشجير أرضه مبلغ يصل 60000£. آمل أن تساهم بما تستطيع والقليل مع القليل يجمع.

Mahmoud’s text translated into English:

Mahmoud Al-Farra: A University Professor Affected in Gaza

Mahmoud Al-Farra, an influential university professor in Gaza, has suffered the complete destruction of his home, including all its contents and internal structure. His land, with its fruit-bearing trees over 25 years old, was also bulldozed. Additionally, his mother’s and family’s home sustained severe structural damage, rendering it uninhabitable under normal conditions.

As a result, a vital part of his two-story home was destroyed, along with all its furniture and facilities. The house was completely cut off from electricity, communication networks, and water.

Mahmoud spent over 15 years working tirelessly in higher education, freelancing, and remote work to build his home and cultivate his land with various trees. He was only able to move into his house two years before the war on Gaza began and is still obligated to pay monthly installments. Now, he and his children are left without proper shelter, living in what remains of their home after making basic repairs using primitive means.

The war and forced displacement have also led to the loss of his job at the Ministry of Higher Education and his freelance work in vocational training. As a result, he has not received a salary for more than 16 months, like many other government employees in Gaza.

All this has led me to make this appeal and request your support in helping Mahmoud rebuild his home, his mother’s home, and replant his land so he can continue living in Gaza. He is fully committed to staying in Palestine and refuses to leave under any circumstances, as he believes in the importance of continuing his work in university and technical education.

If you are able, I hope you can contribute with a donation or by sharing his story with as many people as possible.

Mahmoud needs £60,000 to rebuild and furnish both his home and his mother’s home, as well as to restore his land. Any contribution, no matter how small, will help make a difference.

Thank you.

And now a bit more from me. Hi – I’m James. I grew up in the UK and live in London. I want to tell you about my connection.

I first met Rami, Mahmoud's older brother, when we were both working for the British Council in Gaza about 25 years ago and we became good friends. One of the highlights for me was when my parents visited and Rami gave them a tour of southern Gaza, including his hometown of Khan Younis.

Khan Younis has been home to the Al-Farra family for many generations. Like so many in the Gaza Strip, they have been displaced several times and had their houses significantly damaged.

Starting to rebuild will be a necessity. We want him to have the funds to do this, as soon as it is safe. Rami and I will coordinate to ensure any funds raised will be sent to Mahmoud and family to enable them to rebuild their homes and stay in Khan Younis.

Thank you for reading this and responding. Please give what you can.