Supporting the Farajallah Family: Rebuilding Lives

Dear friends and supporters,

My name is Heba Farajallah. I am a Palestinian residing in the UK, where I am pursuing my PhD and working with the NHS. The rest of my family lives in the Gaza Strip. I come from a lovable, highly educated family that appreciates the power of education.

On January 9, 2024, Israeli airstrikes hit my family's home in Gaza while they sought shelter inside. This tragic event changed our lives forever, as it did for countless Gazans. I received the devastating news while at work; I learnt that my dear sisters Reem, 32 and Wafa, 27, along with their two children, Mohammed, 6 months old and Mohammed, two years old as well as my brother’s son Kamal, three years old, were all killed in this attack.

Miraculously, my niece, Mariam, a bright and resilient six-year-old, survived the airstrikes but suffered serious injuries, including the loss of her entire right leg. Mariam came to this world after numerous IVF attempts over nine years and brought immense joy to our family. When she was three, she asked her mum for a baby brother, and her joy knew no bounds when she finally welcomed him into the family. Tragically, the airstrikes took Mariam’s mum and brother and all the grandchildren in the family.

Mariam took about 5-6 weeks after the attack to regain her ability to talk. When she spoke, we realised that she remembered every single detail of that day and remembered the bodies of her mum and brother. Luckily, Mariam is in Qatar now, receiving medical care for her infected amputated wound. Mariam experiences regular nightmares, incontinence and episodes of unexplained crying, indicating severe trauma.

Mariam and Her brother, Mohammed ( taken in April 2023)

My youngest brother, Osama, 17, witnessed the attack firsthand as he was in the adjacent room where my sisters and children were sitting and playing. He saw my sisters and children’s bodies when they were recovered. He was trapped under the kitchen wall. He miraculously survived but sustained terrible injuries to both feet. Despite undergoing surgery at a hospital in Egypt on 07.02.24, the treatment was abruptly halted by the Palestinian Embassy in Egypt for unspecified financial reasons, leaving him without medical care in Cairo and unable to walk. Lacking access to a wheelchair or crutches, Osama's mobility is severely limited. Despite his intelligence and ambition to study medicine at university, the ongoing genocide in Gaza has deprived him and other children of the opportunity to pursue education.

My brother, Mohammed, lost his son, Kamal. Kamal has a twin sister, Juman, who asks after him all the time. Juman took her weeks and weeks to have a smile on her face and to accept other children to play with. Juman and Kamal are the product of IVF after a few attempts. The twins’s mother, Hanine, is badly injured in her back, shoulder and arm. I cannot fathom what she is going through, whether it is the loss of her son or her lifelong injuries.

Kamal and Juman ( taken last August)

Currently, my family lives in a tent in Gaza after their house was completely destroyed. Our family house was built in late 2022, a building of 4 floors ( we are a big family) and cost my family around $80,000. They still have not finished the payments and are meant to complete the instalments by the end of 2025. My parents want to rebuild the house once ceasefire in place.

My parents, determined to remain in their hometown despite the ongoing genocide, are committed to rebuilding their lives and their home from the ground up. However, the financial burden of this endeavour is immense, and we are reaching out to you for support.

Side of the destroyed family house in Gaza

We are in the process of organizing a fundraiser to help cover the costs of medical treatment for Mariam, Osama, Juman and other family members, as well as to support the rebuilding of our family home.

Despite the immense loss we have endured, we remain committed to overcoming our grief and rebuilding our lives. Your generous contributions will not only provide much-needed assistance to my family during this difficult time but will also send a powerful message of solidarity and compassion to all those affected by the ongoing violence in Gaza.

We appreciate your support in helping us achieve our goal. Your contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in the lives of the Farajallah family and particularly in securing a brighter future for Mariam and Juman. Please consider donating and sharing our fundraiser with your friends and family to help us reach our target.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity.