Two months ago we succeeded in raising £11,000 for Sabr's initiative to provide food for displaced families in Deir al Balah.
Sabr and wife cooking rice in the camp
Distributing pastries in the camp
Sabr is an activist from Beit Hanoun who I met when volunteering to support farmers, fisherfolk and paramedics in Gaza in 2008-2009. He also volunteered with the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, gathering evidence of war crimes during Israel's war on Gaza known as Operation Cast Lead.
Today, in this current onslaught, Sabr and family are supporting dozens of displaced families in the camp that they themselves have been displaced to. From initially providing cooked food and support parcels for 26 families, they are now supporting over 100 to support each other.
Food brought from the local market
A parcel for distribution
Deir al Balah is considered a 'safe zone' in central Gaza. But it is densely overcrowded. And still subjected to daily air strikes. People are sleeping in the streets with only what they were able to salvage from their last refuge. Deir al Balah's population has grown to one million after the evacuation orders and destruction of Khan Younis and Rafah in the south.
The price of food in Gaza has fluctuated wildly. Water is prioritised for drinking so bathing is limited to once every two weeks or people are using the sea. A 250ml bottle of shampoo is $50 and a bar of soap is $30 on the local market. There is mafia activity and food supplies are frequently stolen after Israeli troops withdraw from an area, driving up prices and scarcity.
A psychosocial support class for girls in the camp
A psychosocial support class for boys in the camp
This crowdfunder is to try to keep up some support for Sabr's initiative which is totally grassroots and geared towards mutual aid and solidarity between Palestinian genocide survivors, keeping them together on their land in the face of erasure.
I've made the target lower than last time because I want to send money quicker - the possibility of Sabr and his family being killed in air strike is real. Massacres are being perpetrated on a daily basis all over Gaza with camps, school refuges and markets being routinely targeted.
Poetry: A flower that has withered
Since 7 October we haven’t met (unclear)
Since 7 October we haven’t met a fisherman
Since 7 October we haven’t met our beloved ones
The sky is full of missiles
Your Solidarity
I hope we can exceed this target. Please give what you can - all of the money goes directly towards sustaining the families and their steadfastness. Thankyou 🙌