Hashem and Sama
Hashem is from Gaza and works as a doctor at an NHS hospital. With our help, he rebuilt his life and nine of his family members were assisted by our supporters to leave Gaza.
Hashem first contacted Positive Action in Housing in March 2023, when he sent us and 100 other refugee organisations in the UK an email seeking financial support and accommodation for a month. At the time, he was seeking asylum and living in a Liverpool Hostel on £8 a week. As he was on the shortage occupation list, he secured a job as a doctor at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.
Robina Qureshi, our CEO, said, “It was the early hours when I was finishing up some work. I looked at this email. He was very clear about what he needed. I thought we could do this. I wrote to some of our hosts in Exeter and by morning, three out of about 25 people said yes, this could work. So, we went through the process and introductions, and Hashem was able to move to Exeter, start work, and get out of the asylum trap. Little did I know that seven months later, we would get involved again when Gaza came under intense bombardment by Israel.”
Hashem credits Positive Action in Housing’s swift intervention with saving the lives of his family, who were trapped in Gaza amidst relentless bombardments. Dr Hashem described the situation as "hopeless" before the charity's intervention.
"My mother, sister, mother-in-law, and several other relatives were all in Gaza, facing imminent death because of daily carpet bombing of the entire Gaza Strip and the targeting of civilians," Dr Hashem explained. "My sister-in-law had been without chemotherapy for months, and my father-in-law was constantly fleeing danger.
Trapped under relentless bombing, Hashem’s family faced imminent death. "My mother, sister, and other relatives were in constant danger," he explained. His sister-in-law had been without chemotherapy for months, and his father-in-law was constantly fleeing. The situation felt hopeless until the charity raised funds for their escape. “At first, we thought we could save just my mother and sister, but the support grew, and we managed to save the lives of nine people.”
On 28th March 2024, after weeks of waiting, his family finally left Gaza and received life-saving medical care. "It was a race against time," Hashem recalled. His sister-in-law received urgent chemotherapy, and his family was safe for the first time in months.
Now, Hashem hopes to reunite with his wife and family in the UK. Sadly, some relatives remain in Gaza, including his father-in-law, who continues to live in dire conditions. "He’s still there, surviving on very little,” Hashem said. "It’s heartbreaking."
The speed and effectiveness of your actions were remarkable. You didn’t just save lives—you gave my family hope for the future