Waterford-Palestinian sisters vow to keep going as they raise over €50k for Gazan family

Waterford sisters with Palestinian origins have raised over €50,000 for their extended family in Gaza, and they have no plans to stop. 

Sara and Emma Abu Selmia - whose father is Palestinian - launched a fundraiser at the start of January with the goal of raising €100,000 for their aunts, uncles and cousins displaced from their homes in Gaza. 

The sisters travelled a combined 650km throughout the month, representing the 40km distance that their extended family each had to travel by foot when they were displaced from their home in Northern Gaza to Rafa in the South. 

After 31 days, the girls have successfully raised €53,889. 

According to their Go Fund Me fundraiser, Sara and Emma's father left Gaza in 1984 to finish his studies in Ireland, where he then met their mother. 

Their dad reportedly has six brothers and two sisters living in Gaza who, along with their wives, husbands and children, have been displaced from their homes due to Israel's ongoing attacks on Palestine. 

According to the girls, some of their family are now living in tents and struggling to find food and clean water. 

They stated: "They left their homes in Northern Gaza with a single backpack each as the area was becoming too unsafe to stay in. Their homes have been destroyed and levelled to the ground along with all their belongings. When the war is over they have nowhere to go home to." 

On Wednesday (January 31), the girls posted on social media to thank everyone who supported them and donated to the fundraiser. 

In an Instagram post, they stated: "As the final day of this challenge comes to an end, we want to say a massive thank you to everyone for the kind messages of support we have received over the last few weeks! 

"We will continue to fundraise and the Go Fund Me will stay open to give our family the best chance at rebuilding their lives. PS: If anyone has any suggestions on what we could do next to keep our fundraising going please give us a message! 

"From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much, Sara & Emma." 

By the end of day 31, Emma had travelled 326.4km by foot with Sara travelling 325.9km.