NHS doctor begs UK government to save his family in Gaza after 120 days of war
A British-Palestinian doctor tormented by his family’s pleas for help from Gaza is crowdfunding in a desperate bid to save them after the Government snubbed his calls to bring them here. Salim Ghayyda, who has worked for the NHS for 20 years, is furious at having to raise £100,000 to do it himself.
His relatives are trapped in Rafah and at risk of “dying at any second” from Israeli bombardment, starvation, dehydration or disease. Appealing to Rishi Sunak’s Government from Gaza as the death toll passed 28,000, Salim’s nephew, Waleed Ghayyda, said: “My uncle is British and lives in the UK, so can you please help get us out? We don’t care where we go, we just want to get out. It’s been more than 120 days [of war] now and things are just getting worse. Help, help, help.”
People inspect the damage to their homes following Israeli air strikes on February 10, 2024 in Rafah (Getty Images)Salim, 51, said: “I contacted my MP, I campaigned and wrote letters asking for help getting my family to safety. “The message I’ve been getting is, ‘Sorry, we’ve had silence from Westminster’ or plain indifference. I’ve been an ideal, law-abiding British citizen who’s paid his taxes, raised three kids who are contributing to the country. Why am I being ignored?”
NHS consultant Salim’s parents, eight siblings and 15 nieces and nephews are among hundreds of thousands who fled to Rafah hoping it was safer than other areas. The city is the crossing point between Gaza and Egypt but they cannot leave as they are not UK citizens. Accountant Waleed, 23, sleeping rough in the city with his mum and three siblings, told via a translator of how they left their home in northern Gaza after Israel launched its offensive in response to the Hamas terror attacks on October 7 that killed 1,300.
Salim's nephew Waheed, Salim's sister Haya, her son Kareen, and daughter Shahad take shelter in a makeshift tent
Salim's sister Haya and her daughter Suha doing their washing in makeshift tentWaleed described life in Rafah as “very difficult” for him and mum Haya, 42, brother Kareen, 15, and sisters Suha, 17, and Shahad, 20, suffering “bowel infections, rashes, fevers and coughs” from drinking dirty water. He added: “Bullets are firing from everywhere and we are in constant fear of being killed at any moment.”
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The UN has warned the city, crammed with 1.5 million refugees and hit by Israeli bombs on Friday, is a “pressure cooker of despair”. Meanwhile, it said acute malnutrition among children in the north of Gaza has risen sharply and is above the critical threshold of 15%. Its humanitarian coordination agency, the OCHA, says half of aid missions were denied access last month and there is rising interference from Israeli forces in how and where aid is delivered.
Salim Ghayyda with niece Rahaf
Salim's autistic nephew, Abboud, 5It says 300,000 people estimated to be living in northern areas are largely cut off from aid and face a growing risk of famine. Mahmoud Shalabi, a medical aid worker in Beit Lahia, said people are grinding grains used for animal feed into flour but even that is running out and stocks of tinned food are disappearing. He said: “What we had was from the six or seven days of truce [in November], and whatever aid was allowed into the north of Gaza has actually been consumed by now.”
Relatives mourn their loved ones killed in Israeli attacks outside the al-Najjar hospital in Rafah (Anadolu via Getty Images)UK nationals need to apply for visas for their spouses, partners and children who are in Gaza through the existing family visa route before they come here. Critics say the process is slow and costly, and relatives such as siblings, parents of adult children and extended family are often not eligible. Last month, 80 British-Palestinian families wrote to Foreign Secretary David Cameron to call for measures similar to the Ukraine Family Scheme.
Salim, a paediatric consultant, stressed his relatives do not wish to move here for good – only for safety before returning after the war. He said: “The Government has helped many refugees from other countries – Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria. Am I not worthy of such help?” Salim’s mum Dala, 75, and dad Nabil, 85, are in a four-bed flat in Rafah with up to 50 others. With them is Salim’s nephew Abboud, five, who is autistic and “goes into meltdown with noise around him”. Salim, who has children aged 14, 20 and 22 in the UK with wife Hala, a refugee support worker, recently had an “emotional breakdown” due to stress.
“My daughter comes home from school and says, ‘Have you called them? Are they still alive?” he said. “It has been a stormy whirlpool of emotions for us.” Salim was born in a refugee camp in Gaza and moved here in 2003. He has worked in hospitals across England and is now based in Inverness. He launched his appeal last month in the hope of paying “intermediaries” to help his family cross the border and donations have topped £18,700 so far.
“It’s not something I ever imagined myself doing,” Salim said. “My ideal wish would be peaceful negotiations so they can stay. I don’t know what else to do. I have been humbled by the response from my patients.” First Minister Humza Yousaf and the SNP have been urging Westminster to allow a route to safety for the most vulnerable in Gaza who have links to Scotland. Mr Yousaf, whose parents-in-law are now in Scotland after fleeing Gaza, said: “This is a heartbreaking situation and the Government should answer the appeals of Salim and his family in their hour of need.”
Refugee Council chief executive Enver Solomon said the UK must be ready to help those in need with “emergency measures”. The Government said: “We are working to ensure any British nationals and other eligible people still in Gaza that want to leave are cleared as soon as possible.”
Donate to Salim’s fund at gofundme.com/f/help-fleeing-the-conflict-in-gaza
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