The Forgotten People Fund

A charity registered in Israel # 58-032-322-8

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Azorim, Netanya

Atnefa and Semuchan Mulat arrived in Israel from Ethiopia in 2002 with two children, a daughter now aged 10½ and a son now aged 8 ½ and a third well on the way (a son now 4 years old). Since then, another son, aged 2, has joined the family.

Atznefa had hurt his back in Ethiopia while he and his family were waiting to come to Israel and when they arrived he was immediately treated for his back injury. Unfortunately, the treatment only made his condition worse instead of better and he has since had two more surgeries to relieve the pressure on his spine and needs yet another operation. As a result of the surgeries and the pain he is suffering, Atznefa can barely walk and hasn’t been able to work at all this year. He received unemployment insurance for six months and now that assistance has ended and his case is being re-evaluated by National Insurance. In the meantime, the family’s only income is the child allowance they receive every month.

FPF was contacted by the family’s social worker, Pazit, who explained that the children were malnourished and their electricity and water had been cut off. FPF immediately paid the family’s utility bills, the children’s school fees, and has provided them with food vouchers. Every few weeks FPF provides food vouchers for shopping so that the kids won’t go hungry. We just gave them two big bags of good, used winter clothing for the children and bought Atznefa lightweight sport shoes and a special back brace to help him get around.

This is a lovely family that has gone through much deprivation and hard times since their arrival in Israel. We can only hope that the next surgery that Atznefa undergoes will ease his pain and allow him to walk properly and regain his ability to go to work. He is 38 years old and has said that if the next surgery, scheduled in the Spring, doesn’t let him live a normal life, he will end his life. He knows that FPF is there to help when the family needs us, but he has lost his pride and confidence in his ability to care for his wife and children.