Mothers Against Genocide Féile 10&5K fundraiser for B.A.R.H

Mothers Against Genocide was established in October 2023 by a group of women that were horrified by the genocide and brutality in Palestine. Our aim is to raise awareness on the plight of the Palestinian people, we have also pledged to raise funds for the Palestinian people as they endure so much pain. We are committed to doing our upmost to make sure that the people of Palestine are not forgotten.

As a team we decided to establish a running and walking group to help raise much needed funds for the people of Palestine. This will be our second run for Gaza, we will be taking part in the Féile 10k/5k in Belfast on Sunday 4 August 2024.

Mothers Against Genocide has recently partnered with a Palestinian charity, Bureij Association for the Rehabilitation of the Handicapped- B.A.R.H. All our donations will go directly to B.A.R.H.

B.A.R.H was established in 2002, it is a registered Palestinian charity association that supports, cares for, and rehabilitates people with physical disabilities and special needs. Al Bureij has been working in the refugee camp of the same name since April 2002 and its work has expanded in the Gaza strip over the past 22 years.

Most of the population of Gaza are registered refugees – the population of the Gaza Strip was 2.1 million people before 7 October 2023, of these 1.7 million are refugees who were forced out of their homes during military actions that established Israel and 65 percent of the population are under 25. The scope of Al Bureij’s work is extremely broad – providing specialised equipment (wheelchairs, etc.), apprenticeships tailored to people with disabilities, training for children and adults, food aid, and psychosocial support via accessible recreational activities to some of Gaza’s most vulnerable communities. Al Bureij is a trusted organization that has worked in partnership with USAID, Mercy Corps, and UNRWA.

Jenny Boylan and Clare Holohan are 2 Irish human rights activists who are involved with Al Bureiji, they both know Palestine well from living and working there on the ground, they support local organisations like Al Bureij as they are best able to understand the needs and can gauge appropriate responses for their communities.

Since 7 October 2023 at least 37,551 Palestinian people have been slaughtered, over 85,911 wounded, there are now at least 17,000 orphaned children, and there are preliminary statistics of 10,000 who have had amputation of limbs, in some of whom multiple limbs have been amputated. Unless there is a permanent and immediate ceasefire at the time of writing these numbers will increase and the situation will have worsened immeasurably. The escalating violence in Gaza has also intensified a mental health crisis among its residents. Constant bombardment and displacement and the loss of family members are predisposing many children to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other adverse mental health conditions. In fact, a 2020 study showed that 53·5% of Gazan children had PTSD even before this conflict. Such conditions often go untreated due to a lack of awareness from health professionals, a shortage of mental health professionals, and Israeli restrictions on foreign aid. Consequently, many children are deprived of necessary care, jeopardising their education, social integration, and even future employment, perpetuating a cycle of social instability. This is why the Al Bureij organisation is an essential lifeline.

At this time, the people of Gaza need us more than ever, these funds will go directly to the Gaza Strip to be made use of straight away. We as group of women who are passionate in this cause would be thankful if you could donate, we know times are hard so if you cannot donate we would be grateful if you could share the link and highlight this urgent need for funds to help this vital and dedicated organisation.

For further information you can follow the links below:

https://www.instagram.com/barh.2002/

https://www.instagram.com/mothersagainstgenocide/

MOTHERS AGAINST GENOCIDE RUNNING GROUP MEMBERS:

IF I MUST DIE

A Poem written by the Palestinian poet Refuat Alhaeer before his death in an Israeli Airstrike in December 2023

If I must die,

you must live

to tell my story

to sell my things

to buy a piece of cloth and some strings,

(make it white with a long tail)

so that a child,

somewhere in Gaza

while looking heaven in the eye

awaiting his dad who left in a blaze

-and bid no one farewell

not even to his flesh

not even to himself-

sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above

and thinks for a moment

an angel is there

bringing back love.

If I must die

let it bring hope

let it be a tale