The last couple of weeks have been hard to witness. I’m relieved to report that all our 25 families have checked in and are physically unharmed. Some have once again witnessed horrific violence, and many have received evacuation orders. They describe the impossibility of deciding whether to go or stay, exhausted from repeated displacements and without the funds for transportation, shelter or replacing equipment. We’ve set up a dedicated fundraiser to try and help with these costs, so if you can spare it this month, please consider chipping in. The smallest donation can make a difference.
All of our families were in desperate need this month, and we had the difficult task of trying to allocate funds. We do this taking into account factors like who has the most immediate need (for money to buy that week’s food, for example), who has shelter and basic necessities, and who is in the more immediately ‘dangerous’ areas. Some of our families have other fundraising teams also supporting them, while some only receive help from Coffees for Gaza. This month we distributed £2828.51 between ten families. We are so grateful for every single one of our generous donors - without you we would not be able to help them.
Family News
Abdullah, Haneen, and their sons Mohammed, Ziad, Omar and Ameer.
Abdullah has a long-term health condition, as does his little son Omar. His health has worsened a lot since the bombing resumed, and his family cannot afford his prescribed medication. He needs a medical mattress, which they are also not able to afford. The family live in the North and have just received evacuation orders. Nourhan’s son Mohammed and daughter Najat.
Nourhan’s family home was completely destroyed and she has been living in a tent in a nearby camp with her two small children, Najat and Mohammed. Before the bombings began again conditions were already dire, with little food or water, no electricity or sanitation. When attacks resumed, Nourhan witnessed a neighbour being sniped and killed in front of her. Her family fled the camp with nothing and are living in a tent with relatives. They are traumatised and terrified. Najat turned 6 on the 1st of April.
Fadi, Alaa and their daughters Kenda, Leen and Dania.
Fadi worked very hard to find and furnish a new home for his family after theirs was rendered uninhabitable. He was able to find a temporary job during the ceasefire. However, on the 18th they woke up to bombing all around them. Food prices in the markets have increased 500% and Fadi’s job is on hold. They have received evacuation orders, but they are exhausted and financially drained and plan to stay where they are.
Basel with his daughters Lara and Mira.
Basel and Angham, with their little girls Lara and Mira, have been displaced from their home and are once again living in a tent. They were the first family we saw return home during the ceasefire and had begun to repair and rebuild. Now their future is uncertain - but Basel works hard to keep his family and his supporters in good spirits, and on the 30th he posted an adorable Eid photoshoot with his two girls.
Sarah and Mia have been working on a new artivism challenge this month, centred on Earth Day (22nd April) and highlighting the interconnections between genocide and ecological crisis. We’re collaborating with activists for Congo and Sudan and inviting our communities to respond creatively to five prompts between the 21st and 25th April: 21.4 - The Olive Tree Will Outlive The Empire 22.4 - Where The Hibiscus Flowers Grow 23.4 - The Soil Bleeds Blue 24.4 - The Land Remembers 25.4 - The Earth Still Dreams
If you're on instagram, you can join in by creating in any medium and posting your work each day with the hashtag #earthdayforpeace and tagging @coffeesforgaza, @bsonblast, @itschinwosu and @readingafricana. If social media isn't your thing and you'd like to join us, you can send in your work with this form and we'll share it! Some pieces will be chosen to feature on fundraising products, with the creator's permission.
We find community challenges like this really help to grow our audience and forge new bonds of solidarity, so please share widely with your friends and family.
With love and solidarity, Billy and Coffees for Gaza xx
