WATER NEEDED IN ABLAH, LEBANON

As humans, as people with compassion and empathy, we always try to help each other, both in good and bad times. We do it in many different ways, which is why I would like to introduce myself to the world. I am a father and son of Lebanon, a country where men fought in a gruesome civil war some 30-odd years ago. We survived it, but now we are faced with a different war; hunger and drought.

The US dollar years back used to be .60 Lebanese Lira, then it boomed to 1750 Lira per US dollar. Now it has skyrocketed to about 100,000 lira per dollar. A few years ago, the average monthly pay in Lebanon was about $1200/mo, now it has fallen to about $75/mo in parallel with terrible inflation, one of the worst in the world.

The people have no food no water, and barely any money to buy other necessities. Today, as a father, as a Lebanese, as a human, I am pleading for your help. Anything will help, the country is in desperate need. After coming back from Lebanon just a few days ago, I never thought in my life I would see an older gentleman walk into a store asking how much a dozen eggs were so that he could feed his family for the day. He was told it was 54,000 lira, he ruffled through his pockets and in the end, only had enough lira to buy 2 eggs to feed his family… 2 eggs!! This is one of the many struggles the people face in Lebanon daily.

No human deserves to go hungry or thirsty, they need our support more than ever. Whatever I could personally do to help for the short time I was there, I did… but they need much more. This first fundraiser is to raise enough money to install a couple of water wells so the people of my hometown, Ablah, can have fresh, clean water to drink and use. After this, I will start fundraising to prepare for the harsh Winter there, gathering up medications and money for winter fuel.

For now, the focus is on getting them a source of clean water to be able to drink, cook, and bathe without getting sick. With your generosity and help, we can all deliver some good news to a place that is riddled with only bad news, day in and day out.

I just want to say thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity, anything can and will help.

- Robert Rahal