My name is Jad Rachid and I am raising funds with my sister, Rida Rachid, for our family in Lebanon.

We were born and raised in Canada to two immigrant parents. Our mother is Filipino and our father is Lebanese. Growing up we heard countless stories and saw many news segments about the middle east and it's conflicts. Since then I had the chance to visit Lebanon twice and witness it's beauty in person. For those who know us, my sister and I are very emotional people. We wear our hearts on our sleeves. We've watched the conflict in Occupied Palestine for the last almost 12 months in shock and horror. Scenes we've grown accustomed to seeing on TV growing up but in such a massive scale and televized for the world to see is truly horrific. We've always felt close to Lebanon, felt like it was part of our roots. I fell in love with Lebanon on my trips. My sister found love in Lebanon and is currently trying to bring her partner back to Canada. My father has returned many times. We can't sit back idle, we've demonstrated endlessly but now it's time to do more for the people we love.

We now have two brothers back in Lebanon, one of whom is less than 10 months old. Laith Rachid is our brother who was born this January and is a Canadian citizen. Laith and his mother are currently residing in Tripoli, in the northern parts of Lebanon. He is currently safe but with the growing threat of complete all out regional war, there is very little pause to the thoughts of the bombing and war reaching northern Lebanon.

Over the last week, Israel has bombed many locations accross Lebanon without discrimination towards civillians and civil infrastructure. Today (September 28th, 2024) bombs struck less than 3 minutes away from my sister's family residence. The growing possibility of my sister's husband Ousama and his family being bombed by Israel is looming larger and larger over our heads.

My father has been the sole provider of Laith and his mother and is seeking assistance in bringing Laith to Canada to be reunited with the rest of his family. My sister has been trying over the last two years to obtain a Visa for her husband in Lebanon, and has spent countless days and resources and was very close until these awful bombings started.

We are asking not only for your financial support in making Laith's relocation out of an ongoing conflict that seems to see endless escalation, a possibility, but also your support in calling for a ceasefire and arms embargo immediately.

Laith Rachid

Zahra & Laith Rachid

Ousama & Rida Hamd

FUNDS ALLOCATION:

$5000 towards Laith Rachid's safe relocation to either Turkey or Cyprus incl. necessities like shelter, food and clean water

To be sent by WesternUnion (looking for an alternative measure)

If all or partial funds are unable to be spent due to:

We will either find a suitable charity that supports the Lebanese and/or Palestinian people struggling under this conflict to donate the remaining funds to, or in the case of all funds go unspent it will be refunded to donors.