Help a stateless Palestinian refugee to survive
Help Obieda/Ibaida Recover from a Brain Injury and Build a Safer Future
My name is Obieda/Ibaida. I am a 32-year-old Palestinian refugee living in Ain al-Hilweh camp near Sidon, Lebanon. I am registered with UNRWA, and I am asking for your help to access the medical care I need, recover from a serious brain injury, and work toward a safer and more independent future in another country.
I never imagined that I would reach a point where even finding and keeping a job would become such a difficult challenge. Today, I am trying to rebuild my life, but I cannot do it alone.
My Story
In 2024, I was in South Africa, where I had travelled hoping to find protection and a safer future. While there, I worked in a restaurant and tried to support myself. I applied for asylum, but my application was refused. I lodged an appeal, but I left South Africa before receiving a final decision on it.
During this difficult period, I experienced a serious mental health crisis and attempted suicide. I survived, but I also suffered a serious accident that resulted in a brain injury and hospitalization.
Since then, my life has changed significantly. I have struggled with memory and concentration difficulties, and these problems have affected my ability to work and manage everyday responsibilities.
I live with bipolar disorder and need ongoing medical care. I am doing my best to manage my health, but recovering from these experiences has been a long and difficult journey.
How My Brain Injury Has Affected My Life
One of the hardest consequences of my injury is that I can no longer work as I used to.
I have tried to find employment and applied for three different jobs, but I was not accepted. My difficulties with remembering things and concentrating have been a major obstacle.
For someone who wants to support himself and build an independent life, this is deeply discouraging. I want to work, earn my own money, and move forward, but my health problems make these goals much harder to achieve.
I am not asking for sympathy without taking responsibility for my future. I am asking for the medical care and support I need to improve my condition and regain as much independence as possible.
The Challenges I Face as a Palestinian Refugee in Lebanon
I currently live in Lebanon as a Palestinian refugee. My circumstances make it difficult to establish a stable future, particularly when I am struggling with health problems that limit my ability to work.
I am registered with UNRWA, but I still need help covering my medical expenses and the follow-up care required for my conditions.
Without a reliable income, paying for medication, specialist appointments, and the investigations needed to assess my brain injury is difficult.
I also want to pursue the possibility of moving legally to another country where I may have better opportunities to receive appropriate care, find employment if my health allows, and build a more stable life.
I know that moving abroad is not guaranteed, and I do not want to make promises about an outcome I cannot control. However, I want the opportunity to prepare for a lawful route to a safer future rather than remain unable to move forward.
My Medical Needs and What Your Donations Will Cover
I am raising an initial goal of $8000 to help cover my medical needs, support my recovery, and prepare for the possibility of starting a new life abroad.
These are some of my current medical expenses:
- Lithium: approximately $15 per month.
- Atypral: approximately $9 per month.
- Venlax: approximately $4 per month.
- Neurology consultation: $70 per visit with Dr. Sara Farhat at Ghassan Hammoud Hospital. She also treats me for bipolar disorder.
- Brain MRI: approximately $150 for the imaging needed to assess my brain injury.
My three listed medications cost approximately $28 per month, excluding medical appointments and investigations. The MRI and specialist consultation are additional expenses.
The money raised will help me pay for prescribed medication, medical consultations, brain imaging and other necessary follow-up care. It will also help me cover appropriate document, application, and travel-preparation expenses as I explore lawful opportunities to move abroad.
My medical needs come first. I will use donations according to my actual circumstances and explain how the funds are used as transparently as I can.
The $4,000 goal is an initial fundraising target, not a claim that this amount will cover every future medical or travel expense. Donations cannot guarantee a visa, asylum, or permission to live in another country, but they can help me address my immediate needs and prepare for possible opportunities.
Why I Am Asking for Your Help
I want to recover, regain my independence, and have the chance to build a future in which I can live with dignity and security.
My brain injury and mental health difficulties have made ordinary things, including finding work, much more difficult. I am trying to take steps forward, but I need help with expenses that I cannot currently manage on my own.
Every donation, whether $10, $20, or any amount you can afford, will make a difference. If you cannot donate, sharing my campaign with friends, colleagues, and people who care about refugees and access to healthcare would also mean a great deal to me.
I can provide relevant medical reports, proof of my UNRWA registration, and available South African asylum documents to help substantiate my circumstances. I will also do my best to provide updates and receipts for expenses paid with the donations, while protecting my personal and medical privacy.
I am not asking anyone to solve every problem faced by Palestinian refugees. I am asking for help with my own urgent needs: accessing medical care, managing the effects of my brain injury, and working toward a safer and more independent future.
I want the opportunity to recover and rebuild my life. With your support, I hope to take the next steps toward that future.
Thank you for reading my story, for your kindness, and for helping me hold on to hope.
With sincere gratitude,
Obieda/Ibaida
