Note: All donations are in Canadian dollars as the beneficiary distributing the funds is located there. $0.73 = 1 CAD / £0.58 = 1 CAD

Fatima, 85, who is permanently wheelchair-bound, blind and immobile, unable to wash or feed herself, heads an almost entirely disabled family, now stuck as refugees in a Deir al Balah tent camp. Of her four children, Iman, 42, is deaf and blind, Jamal, 37, is deaf and Maha, 32, is deaf, mute and has serious brain damage. Faraj, 45, the only able-bodied member of the family, is left to tend to his loved ones, including a beautiful wife and daughter, all of whom he’s working tirelessly to keep alive in the warzone, without regular access to healthcare, food or safe drinking water.

The family has been driven out of its family home, first badly damaged by a tank shell, but now totally destroyed by IDF bombs, despite all residents of the building’s apartments having been ordinary, unaffiliated civilians. They’re now living all together in a tent, trying to find a way to stay alive. Just a few days ago, Fatima told Faraj what no son wants to hear from his mother: pleading with him to leave the family behind to save himself. Faraj won’t give up on his family. He continues to find food and water to keep them all alive. However, as Faraj can’t speak English, he’s asked us at Jahalin Solidarity to appeal for international support through this fundraiser, which is currently their only real chance for survival.

We are raising $45,000 to pay for Egypt’s fee for border passage between Rafah and Egypt once the crossing is re-opened. When we’ve met the goal, we aim to raise a further $20,000 so the family can access healthcare and housing in Egypt and start a dignified life without fear of homelessness, until it’s feasible for them to return home.

As a disclaimer, we’re aware that crossing into Egypt from Rafah is harder than ever - and currently totally closed. However, the money we’ll initially raise will provide the Al-Najjar family crucial access to food and water so that they can continue to survive in the warzone. With further funding gained, Jahalin Solidarity will work tirelessly to co-ordinate with our contacts in Cairo to legally evacuate the Al-Najjar family from Rafah.

No family, especially one with so many disabled members, deserves to be subjected to such brutality. Please donate whatever you can to keep their hope and faith in humanity alive. If you can’t donate, please share this fundraiser, to increase our visibility: it would mean the world to Faraj and his family.

Mohammed*, a relative who lives in Canada, and who has asked to protect his anonymity for fear of persecution in his own country, provided the following statement:

And finally, here’s a word from Jahalin Solidarity’s founder, Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, who’s in daily contact with the Al-Najjar family:

*The funds gained will be sent to Mohammed, who will distribute the funds to the family through Western Union. We at Jahalin Solidarity are in constant contact with both Mohammed and the Al-Najjar family. This GoFundMe has been organised by Isaac Levin Schtulberg, a volunteer in London for Jahalin Solidarity.