#cold days

"Winter, with its atmosphere and rituals, used to represent a joy we never imagined would become a nightmare. 😭 It's harsh on every tent or house threatened with collapse."

In Gaza, for the third time winter means families are scrambling to keep warm. This is no different for Farah's family. Since last winter, they have only received one blanket from the UNRWA for an entire family of eight, which just isn't enough.

"Farah doesn't know that the reason for her shivering is the rain and the cold. She stops crying for a moment, then bursts into tears again."

Farah has both a mental and physical disability, which makes bearing the cold a challenge for her. Bad weather conditions are especially unpleasant for her, her mother Wesal (@shahdgazza) tells me.

[a video which shows Farah, a fifteen-year old autistic girl with kidney disease from gaza, crying because she is cold]

"A healthy person cannot tolerate cold conditions; how can I make a child with a mental disability endure them? My heart and body are trembling, but I'm covering myself with a thin summer blanket to try and keep my children warm. It's very dangerous. ‼️‼️‼️"

Blankets cost $50-$60 dollars in Gaza now, Wesal tells me, and she currently cannot afford that. With what I've sent her of your generous donations, she has bought medication for Farah, food, and warm winter clothes for her children. But with no other income currently, blankets are beyond their means. In the meantime, the rain keeps coming down, undeterred.

[a photo taken from a balcony showing the streets of Gaza completely underwater and people's tents destroyed from the rain and the wind]

"We take shelter under the rubble of homes that have been completely or partially destroyed. The situation is catastrophic. We hope to find someone to help us... 🙏🏻🌸"

Please help this innocent, sweet girl stay warm. A few days ago, Wesal told me that Farah almost froze to death, but thankfully one of her younger brothers who was also trying to sleep noticed and alerted his parents. This is the terrifying reality for the children of Gaza.

Please, if you are able, donate to Farah's fundraiser. You can also donate via Paypal. If you cannot donate, then share! You may think it doesn't make a difference, but it actually means so much. Only by keeping Gazan fundraisers circulating can we reach people who are able to help.

You can get a free commission by @/fablebagel if you donate $10 or more! Thank you, Fable. ❤️

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far. If you're not able to donate, at least consider sharing. Thank you.

Verification is #451 on the gazavetters spreadsheet.

tagging for reach, please share, thank you <3 (let me know if you don't want me to tag you anymore, apologies for any multiple tags)