IG: ayrastarr
Especially for those who are working professionals please strongly consider donating (please read her message, and the links are also provided).
i had shared what is happening in sudan on a long facebook post last night, but it virtually received almost little to no engagement or shares from the nearly 600 “friends” i have on the site.
this morning, my great-aunt was shot by the soldiers fighting for power, and God forbid, i lose more of my family members before eid this friday.
please read below to understand what is happening and how you can help my country. i hope the tumblr community can show more kindness than the lack of support and advocacy i’ve seen elsewhere.
يا رب اجعل هذا البلد آمناً 🇸🇩
the lack of awareness and advocacy from the African, Arab, and Muslim diaspora and the human rights community has been painful.
while Western media has done little to no coverage of the ongoing conflict in the capital city of my motherland, Sudan, it appears that the rest of the world also partakes in normalizing crimes and violence against SWANA people.
violence and war hurting the SWANA region are NOT ordinary occurrences — no one, regardless of race, creed, ethnicity, religion, and gender, should experience the unprecedented amount of violence that harms my two living grandmothers, aunts and uncles, and baby cousins who live in Khartoum.
your decision to ignore reading or educating and discussing with others about what is likely to be a civil war is complicity in viewing SWANA people as individuals who regularly experience conflict and are undeserving of help.
the silence is damaging, and it is up to us as privileged members of the diaspora (or individuals living in the Western world committed to human rights) to support the people of my country and their dream for a stable, democratically elected government.
what is happening in Sudan is a fight that started on April 15 between two competing forces for power — the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — neither groups are representative of the needs of our people. The Sudan Army is loyal to the dictator, Omar Al-Bashir, and the RSF is responsible for the genocide in Darfur.
with both power struggles backed by different Arab and Gulf nations, the two parties have been fighting for power for the last few years. While they worked together to try and end the people’s revolution, they lost. however, they are now in a constant power play of who will get to rule the nation.
this all means that war is NOT a reflection of my country — violence does not represent the SWANA people. Sudan is a nation of beautiful culture, strong women, intellectual and influential Islamic scholars, poets, and youth at the front lines of the revolution. we are a people committed to a region of peace for ourselves and the rest of the Ummah.
my family and the rest of Sudan’s innocent civilians are at the most risk, with many currently without drinking water, food to eat, electricity, and complete blockage to any mosques during the final nights of Ramadan, our holiest month of the year.
i ask that you please keep Sudan and our people in your prayers — donate to the Sudan Red Crescent or a mutual aid GoFund Me, email your representatives if you live in a country that can put pressure on either competing force of power, discuss this with your family and friends, and please do not forget to think about SWANA people — our brothers and sisters in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and many others need our love and support.
الردة_مستحيلة ✊🏾
#KeepEyesOnSudan
Hey guys! I want to spotlight Hossam Bardaweel's fundraiser today. As you may remember, he is the last survivor of his direct family members, and is now responsible for taking care of all his orphaned nieces, nephews, and his brothers' widows.
Please do not hesitate to donate. He is heartbroken enough as is having to deal with the grief of extreme loss such as this. I cannot imagine having to take care of my nieces and nephews while I grieve my own parents and dear siblings.
This deserves another re-post in light of the escalation in the West Bank. #Neverforget
On January 2, Netanyahu declared that: “Our problem is finding countries willing to absorb Gazans and we are working on it.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich corroborated: “encouraging voluntary immigration” because “two million people [in Gaza] wake up every morning with the desire to destroy the State of Israel.”
Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel told Zman that “voluntary migration is the best and most realistic program for the day after the fighting ends.”
Thus, Israel's official discourse adopted the term “voluntary migration”, even though we know that there is nothing “voluntary” about it, after all, bombing houses and hospitals, punishing the people collectively through starvation, pushing the people to the Egyptian border and other areas that were supposed to be safe, but in the end they are invaded and bombed like all the others were, among everything we have seen so far, there are no actions that give meaning to such a term (a term that should not even exist, just like the Terrorist and Illegitimate State of Isnotreal).
Because there's no enthusiasm from Western allies, Israeli diplomats are scouring the world in search of governments willing to welcome Palestinian refugees.
There are no effective actions that punish Isnotreal and/or bring some justice to Palestine, the USA always vetoes the votes (useless and which have already become jokes) for a ceasefire resolution and the northern countries issue mere notes of repudiation as if, like Canada, were not erasing Palestine from their official documents.
It is worth remembering that the Zionist movement in its beginnings considered transferring the world's Jews to the African continent, to establish their own state there, before choosing Palestine as their destination for colonialism. And as Theodor Herzl, father of Zionism, said: “Antisemites will become our most reliable friends, antisemitic countries our allies.”
Israel's Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu said on January 5 that settlers and soldiers “must find ways even more painful than death” to “get rid of” Gaza's Palestinians. It's not difficult to draw parallels with the N4z1 movements in Germany.
Gentle Reminder: Neoliberalism needs fascism to thrive in order to sustain and serve its own settler-colonial impulses ✨️
Y’all know damn well ain’t nothing changed here for Black Americans. It evolves with the times. Modern-day lynchings and all. It’s not just overt racism like back then, but covert racism to boot. Bill called it white supremacy. I call it white terrorism. Ain’t nothing supreme about it.
Anyone involved in the Civil Rights movement for the right reasons had an FBI file on them. I wonder how deep his was smh.
The Alshawish family reached out to me directly to help their fundraising and have been verified on Operation Olive Branch (see link and screenshot above). Please, I understand it is difficult to donate to everyone but give what you can or do what you can (repost this message, spread the word, apply pressure to those in power).
I am donating to this poor family though understand that we cannot donate to everyone based on how many are posting for help across platforms, but please take it seriously. Perhaps as importantly, if you cannot give in this case consider the power of mutual aid in your own community and pay it forward will you feel you have impact. But never think you do not have impact, or that we are not all worthy of an olive branch.
Thank you and Free Palestine.
Dear Humanity,
I'm Haya from Gaza , from a family of 8 people: my parents, two sons, and four daughters (two of them suffer from allergies).
I've witnessed the evidence of the tragedy that has struck our lives in Gaza, where my family and I have survived amidst numerous previous wars. But today, we face the most dangerous and fierce battle in the current war. The urgent need intensifies for us, as we have nothing left and are unable to secure our basic needs such as food, water, and safe shelter.
Here is our story - On October 7th, our lives changed forever, my family and I evacuated from northern Gaza to southern Gaza, hoping to return soon, but it wasn't meant to be. Our home was surrounded, burned, and then completely destroyed, Our home, once a fortress of hope, now lay in ruins, a stark reminder of our shattered dreams.
The night before we left from the north to the south was terrifying. Shelling sounds were everywhere, making a loud noise that felt like it went through our souls. Every explosions shook the ground like earthquakes, sending shockwaves of fear through our trembling bodies. filling us with fear. The air smelled of destruction and blood, making it hard to breathe. When dawn came, we saw the devastation around us, realizing our home was now a symbol of loss and despair.
We ran into the streets and with each step we took into the unknown streets, we felt as if we were plunging deeper into the abyss of our shattered existence, leaving behind everything we own in our home: Clothes, important official documents, the car, and literally it's almost everything - the enormity of our loss weighed heavily upon us.
Our home it was where we found hope, safety, and made precious memories. Losing it felt like losing years of our lives, leaving us adrift amidst the wreckage of our shattered existence.
A brief video depicting the devastation that struck our home and our entire neighborhood in Gaza.
Desperate Plea: Escaping Gaza's Allergy Nightmare
I, Haya, suffer from severe allergy to penicillin-derived medications, and my sister, Amal, also suffers from severe allergies to medications from my family such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen.
These allergies create a deep sense of fear and anxiety for us, as we live in a constant state of tension and fear of anything that may require a visit to the hospital. We fear being given inappropriate medications due to the unavailability of suitable treatments in Gaza because of war or lack of awareness and not informing the doctor of our allergies, which could lead to serious consequences threatening our lives.
MY Father Income
Our dreams are heading towards oblivion in the labyrinth of an uncertain future
My story, along with my siblings, represents a united team of four individuals, three of whom are skilled programmers and one graphic designer. We work as freelancers in the world of freelancing.
As for my younger sister, she is a student studying at the College of Architecture. She has always carried a big dream in her heart, a dream of being part of changing Gaza, of making it more beautiful and better. She looked forward to the day when she would receive her degree and start building this dream. But the beginning of the war changed everything. The destruction of infrastructure and universities cast shadows of despair over her dreams.
When I think of my brother in Belgium, I can't help but feel deep sadness. He has been suffering from unbearable anxiety and insomnia since the outbreak of the war. Sleep eludes him at night, and his physical and mental health collapses under the weight of these heavy burdens, negatively affecting his performance at work. Problems and challenges pile up in front of him without the slightest opportunity for rest.
We all feel psychological pressure and extreme anxiety. The war hasn't been limited to external attacks but has deeply infiltrated our daily lives. We search among the rubble for a little safety and the basic resources for survival. Every day comes with a new challenge that we must overcome.
As we sway amidst the rubble of shattered dreams, our souls wrestle and our hearts beat strongly challenging the ravages of war.
Our parents earnestly seek a way to rescue us from this hell, feeling the heavy responsibility for every moment we spend under the shadows of fear and destruction. They dream of a safe place where they can build for us a better future, filled with security and hope, for we deserve life in all its meanings of comfort and peace.
Perhaps this fundraising campaign represents a light in the midst of darkness, it is indeed the only hope we cling to firmly.
I appeal to the world as a whole to hear my cry and the mournful cry of my family in Gaza. We need the helping hand that reaches out to wipe our tears and build a bridge to safety.
Your donation is not just a donation; it's an opportunity to rebuild life and brighten a better tomorrow. Be part of our hopeful story, for we need your hand to start anew.
The purpose of the fundraising campaign
The goal of this fundraising campaign is to rescue my family - my parents, my siblings, and me - through the Rafah Crossing to Egypt, which currently requires $5000 per person. This campaign is our only chance to stay alive, and I humbly request your assistance at this critical time. I will provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of the expenses, committing to transparency and clarity.
Thank you for your kindness and support.
.جزاكم الله خيراً
yours sincerely;
Haya Alshawish.
My art block is usually caused by something that I'm struggling to process. And if I can't draw it or talk about it, it stays with me until it no longer bothers me.
It is difficult to feel helpless in anything I do to show support. Sometimes art feels frivoulous and paltry in the face of so much death and destruction of innocent lives. Yet these are the faces that run over my eyes every night. And there's so many more. So putting them in my pocket sketchbook allows me to carry them close as well. I suppose by coping, I can maybe reach someone new or at least start a line of questions.
I'll be doing one for men and boys as well, then scour the internet for people and voices of sudan, congo, tigray, etc. They don't get enough love and news coverage as it is. It's important to remember that they're not just faces in a screen. They're people, some of them my age, that either gave their lives, lost their lives, or live on a razor's edge.
I have them to thank for giving me the courage to remain outspoken. My only regret is that i can't draw these fast enough, but there's no better time to get creative.
Mr.Azura