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Emergency Help for LGBTQ Afghans in Afghanistan

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UPDATES FROM OUR TEAM

It's really remarkable to shed a tear of joy in this time xoxo

Thank You

We are overwhelmed by the support of our communities and allies to show up and raise over $21K in nearly 72 hours, thank you! 
Your generosity has been a salve on our aches as we continue to watch our homeland continue to crumble and fall to the Taliban's violence and destruction. Since we began, Kandahar, Mazar-e Sharif, Kunduz, Sherberghan, Farah and more have been seized sending thousands to the Kabul in hope of an alternative safety. Eyes are on the capitol of Kabul our the world to provide dire help.

Who We Are

We are three concerned Afghans living in the diaspora (from NYC, Philadelphia and Australia/now Florida) working as educators, activists, writers and researchers. Our connection to the recipients of your support is being facilitated by artists, activists, non-profit/NGO workers and LGBTQI individuals on the ground, living/surviving in Afghanistan that we've been connected to through over the years. They have become our kin, our chosen family, our friends and colleagues through a process of trust building and mutual care.

We met them, much like how the three of us met: covertly, seeking desperately to disrupt isolation in the face of being exposed, attacked or even worse. Due to the safety of our network in Afghanistan, we are unable to share their names or organizations however, they have been working with and supporting the often underground organizing and community-building of LGBTQI folks in Afghanistan for years. 

The dozens upon dozens of people who are in need of help through simply our network alone are in need of funds for:
- food/survival needs -- as the primary caregivers to their families;
- to pay for passports, visa costs, airplane tickets and other travel expenses.
- for those who are able to escape, they will finance temporary housing/food in the countries they reach;
- keeping cell phones on to communicate with family and friends;
- pay for GoFundMe and money wire transfer fees

In the meantime, we will work with our contacts in Kabul to begin to distribute the funds and hoping to do it quickly as the reality of no cash in banks is becoming a possibility within days.  We will be updating general details as soon the protocol for the release of funds is completed. 


ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION

Afghanistan is once again experiencing waves of violence as Taliban are taking over major cities, arresting and killing people, leaving thousands of people displaced from their homes and some on the run out of the country. Queer and Trans Afghans are at the center of this violence as socio-economic means were already limited for them. The funds collected from this fundraising will be delivered to queer and trans Afghans in Afghanistan to help them escape; pay for their ID card, passport expenses, travel and or just buy food and meet any other needs. In the words of one of the queer Afghans who is stuck at his family home in Herat, Afghanistan, " our city collapsed today. Taliban are searching houses, killing people. I hear rockets and gunfires. I wish I had the means to escape. We have no electricity, running water or food. Tell the world that I am trying to survive but if I couldn't make it, at least tell my story- story of a queer Afghan in a war zone that wanted to live." Your donation will help save lives. The funds will be hand delivered to these individuals by trusted queer and trans Afghans themselves on the ground.

Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $30
    • 3 yrs
  • william reaves
    • $50
    • 3 yrs
  • Yuki Chandler
    • $5
    • 3 yrs
  • John Payne
    • $50
    • 3 yrs
  • David Annoni
    • $500
    • 3 yrs

Fundraising team (4)

Qais Munhazim
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA
Lana Salah Barkawi
Beneficiary
Bobuq Sayed
Team member
Wazina Zondon
Team member
Ahmad-Bilal Askaryar
Team member

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