For Irha and Fathima Khalil

Suzanne is raising funds for Irha and Fathima Khalil, whom she got to know through a refugee organization she has worked with. Their family has already endured so much. Fathima’s husband is stuck in Qatar on a U.S. military base and is under threat of deportation to a third country after working for the US government during the war. For three years, Irha and Fathima lived in a windowless shipping container in Qatar, where Irha had only rudimentary schooling and it was nearly impossible to go outside because the base was in the desert.

About a year ago, they were finally resettled in Virginia, but the challenges have continued. Fathima has not been able to find a job, they have faced eviction while trying to rebuild their lives, and their savings are gone.

Now Irha and Fathima are hoping to move to California to be closer to family support and to better manage Fathima’s serious health conditions. Fathima is living with diabetes, high blood pressure, a heart stent, significant PTSD, and serious heart problems that led to several small heart attacks and a three-day coma. These funds will help cover flights to California for Fathima and Irha, a modest amount of furniture from Craigslist or Ikea, and a few months of rent while Fathima gets settled and looks for work. If we raise enough Fathima will also buy a cheap used car so she can earn a living driving for Uber/Lyft. Please consider supporting Irha and Fathima as they make this move and work toward stability, safety, and a fresh start near family. Every contribution and share can help lighten the burden and remind them that they are not facing this alone.