My name is Cricket Packard, and I am raising funds for Omar Farid Al-Najjar, a caring brother, son, and uncle who is fighting for his and his family’s survival under genocide. For more than 18 months they have struggled under extreme conditions of famine and bombings, and I am reaching out for help on their behalf.

Omar’s story:

Tragedy struck the Al-Najjar family in the fall of 2023, when their beautiful family home in the Khuza’a neighborhood, newly renovated, was bombed by the Israeli occupying forces. Omar’s own 7 month old infant was killed in this attack, and several of his relatives were injured. When I first met Omar, a few months later, he was living on the streets in Rafah with nothing, after his tent was struck and burned down. In the repeated bombings, his family has migrated throughout Gaza, displaced further each time they are forced to flee for their lives. Now they live crowded under the thin roof of a canvas tent with fifteen family members.

He tells me that they haven’t had a good night’s sleep in more than 18 months. They hear the sounds of fire belts and planes in their dreams, which are all nightmares. The children cry out in fear and the ground shakes. And yet worse, is the hunger and deprivation they suffer because of the systematic attack on Gaza’s food supply.

Omar’s family frequently has no choice but to drink contaminated water and go without food. When they lack diapers, Omar’s sister has no choice but to dress her infant son in plastic bags. The starvation and miserable conditions have taken an intense toll on their health. On top of malnutrition, Omar suffers from herniated disks in his back, arthritis, and wounds from multiple shrapnel injuries.

The number one way we can help Omar’s family rebuild their lives is by directly supplying the funds they need for the essentials of life: food, water, shelter, medicine, and hygiene. There is scarcely work to be found in Gaza, because Israel has decimated its economy. Their last resort is to ask for outside help, caring friends and strangers that are willing to spare a dime to save their lives.

How You Can Help:

Your donations will go toward:

✔️ Food & clean water

✔️ Diapers & baby formula for Omar’s youngest nephew, Ahmed

✔️ Medications for injured and sick family members

✔️ Shelter to protect them from harsh conditions

✔️ Warm winter bedding and clothing

✔️ Savings to build a more permanent house

Verification & Transparency:

Myself and volunteers in The Sidra Project have verified Omar’s situation by way of video call, identification documents, and trusted individuals on the ground in Gaza.

He is a real person in serious need, and every donation will go directly toward helping him and his family rebuild their lives.

Funds are distributed using Paypal with a week of donation, using a designated bank account.

If you have any questions, I am happy to provide more details.

[email redacted]

Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. If you cannot donate, please share this link with others who may be able to help.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving the lives of the Al Najjar family.