Help Us Escape the Ravages of War

Sonja Read is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

When I was living in Gaza as a humanitarian worker some years back, the Strip would occasionally come under Israeli bombing. The lovely Abu Hassanien family invited me to their home so I wouldn't have to be alone. Now they are under Israeli bombing and we're organising this fundraiser to move them to safety in Egypt.

Abed and Faten and their three wonderful children Sara, Kareem and Mohammed were displaced from their home in Gaza city at the beginning of the genocide as Rafah was designated as a safe area. Nevertheless, they have come under recurrent Israeli bombing as nowhere in Gaza is safe. Anyone could be killed at any time.

This fundraiser aims to raise £14,000 ($17,500) so that the family can move to safety in Egypt.

Any amount you can contribute is greatly greatly appreciated and your kindness will not be forgotten!

Here is a message from Faten:

Dear friends, supporters, and compassionate souls,

I write to you today with a heavy heart and a desperate plea for help. My name is Faten Hamad, and I am a clinical psychologist who has dedicated my life to helping others navigate through their struggles and find hope amidst adversity. However, today I find myself in a position I never imagined – seeking assistance to escape the horrors of war and rebuild a life of peace and stability for my family.

The conflict that has engulfed our homeland has left devastation in its wake, claiming lives, destroying homes, and shattering dreams. Like so many others, my family and I have been forced to flee our once beautiful and cozy home, now reduced to rubble and memories. We have sought refuge in a small tent, exposed to the biting cold of winter, surrounded by the constant threat of violence and uncertainty.

As a parent, my greatest fear is for the safety and well-being of my children. Every day, I am haunted by the thought of losing them to the senseless brutality of war – a fate no child should ever endure. It is for their sake, and for the hope of a better future, that I am reaching out to you today.

We long to escape the war and find sanctuary in a land where peace reigns, where my children can grow up without the shadow of war looming over their innocence. But the path to safety is fraught with obstacles, chief among them being the financial burden of relocation and starting anew in a foreign land.

That is why I humbly ask for your support in our journey to freedom and security. Your donation, no matter how big or small, can make a profound difference in our lives. It can provide us with the means to secure safe passage to a welcoming country, where we can begin the arduous task of rebuilding our lives from scratch.

Your generosity will not only help us escape the horrors of war but also enable me to continue my work as a psychologist, supporting others in need and giving back to the community that has shown us kindness in our darkest hour.

Please, consider opening your hearts to our cause. Together, we can turn despair into hope, fear into courage, and devastation into the promise of a brighter tomorrow. Your kindness and compassion have the power to change lives – to give my family and countless others a chance at a new beginning.

Thank you for taking the time to read my plea and for considering how you can help. Your support means more to us than words can express.

With deepest gratitude and hope,

Faten

Here are some images of our family life before the war and after becoming displaced.

In our home before the war: