It's an image that pains your heart to see. A shabbily
dressed man running dangerously between cars, pens in one hand and his sleeping
daughter in the other. The little girl's arm is hanging limp down his back,
she's not even wearing shoes. The man's eyes are filled with desperation.
This image was captured in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.
After a journalist shared the photo on Twitter, it went viral, touching the
hearts of many around the world. The man is one among many thousands of
refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East. Many are trying to survive in
Lebanon without any support or aid.
The man was identified in a news report. His name is Abdul
Halim al-Attar. He is a 33-year-old single father who is trying to pull through
with his 2 young children. That is why he was out on the streets trying to sell
pens.
As people around the world heard about and were touched by
this father's story, more and more decided to play a part in determining his
future. The goal of raising $5,500 in donations was blown out of the water. In
3 months, people from around the world donated a sum close to $200,000.
But due to a rule that prevents refugees from opening bank
accounts in Lebanon, he could only receive some 40% of the total donations via
a complex bureaucratic process.
Nevertheless, Abdul was able to use the money to start
rebuilding his life. He bought a bakery, a restaurant, and a kebab shop. He
employed 16 other refugees and is helping them get back on their feet.
The money made it possible for his 9-year-old son to finally
return to school after 3 years without it, and his sweet 4-year-old daughter is
all smiles about her new toys.
The family of 3, which had been living in a single room,
could finally move into a proper apartment. Abdul distributed the remainder of
the money among his friends and family who are still back in his war-torn
homeland.
"It's not just my life that has changed," said
Abdul, "but the lives of my children and all the people at home who I was
able to help."
The
refugee situation in Lebanon is particularly dicey. There is little to no
government support, the refugees struggle to find work, and thousands are
living homeless on the streets. The small country is being pushed to its
limits.
Share
Abdul's story to remind others of the difference that one man can make for the
lives of so many people. No one should have to lose their home and family to
war.
Source
: hefty.co