The plight of a Syrian refugee trying to sell pens while holding his sleeping daughter in Beirut, Lebanon, inspired worldwide sympathy and an online fundraising campaign that has surpassed $120,000.
Gotten a lot of requests to help this man and his daughter. Anyone know people in Beirut able to locate him? #BuyPenspic.twitter.com/KOz4mjW1rd
— Gissur Simonarson (@GissiSim) August 25, 2015
After the picture was first made popular by Gissur Simonarson, he tracked down the family with the help of local journalists and aid organizations.
The father, Abdul Haleem Al-Kader, is alone in raising a 9-year-old son, Abdelillah, and a 4-year-old daughter, Reem. The family are Palestinian-Syrian refugees who fled the Syrian civil war, the most deadly conflict on the planet.
Simonarson’s crowdfunding surpassed his initial goal of $5,000 in 30 minutes. On Friday, tens of thousands of dollars came in over the course of the day.
Abdul has said that he wants to help other Syrian refugees with this money, as well as send his children to school. Can’t get more noble =)
— Gissur Simonarson (@GissiSim) August 28, 2015
The love just keeps pouring in. Can’t say thank you enough guys. Appreciate everyone donating to #BuyPens pic.twitter.com/lW75Vq6gwd
— Gissur Simonarson (@GissiSim) August 28, 2015
Reem came to me, hugged me & asked to take a selfie.What a lovely lively child. A modest home full of love.#BuyPens pic.twitter.com/zikaYG3yg8
— Carol Malouf Khattab (@carolmalouf) August 28, 2015
“He worked at a chocolate factory before the war,” Simonarson explained. “He left Syria to Egypt with his wife and children, shortly there after his wife wanted to go back to Syria, and they parted ways. He then decided to go to Lebanon and has been there selling pens and anything else he can to support his children.”
Simonarson told BuzzFeed News that he’ll be working with the United Nations to turn the money over to Kader.
H/T NBC | Photos via carolmalouf/Indiegogo | Remix by Jason Reed
