When Ahmed*, 28, woke up to find his country overtaken by religious militia, he was sure he would die. Within hours he had received death threats by phone because he was LGBTQ. He had to run away from home instantly, leaving everything he ever knew, and with nowhere to go.

Sadly, Ahmed's story is not unique. LGBTQ people across the Middle East live every day under threat of being killed by regimes and religious groups acting in their own interpretation of religious law. Many live in isolation, and some are actively on the run , separated from their families, friends and partners.

Our volunteer group has been working ceaselessly to support high-risk LGBTQ people and protect them from religious fundamentalists hostile to them, especially in recent months. We are helping support endangered individuals until they are able to apply for and receive asylum.

When Ahmed contacted us, we were able to provide him with a small destitution grant for safe accommodation and necessities as he had to live in hiding without employment. While in hiding, we helped Ahmed tell his story in the international press. At that stage, he did not know what would happen to him, but he feared the worst.

The only thing that kept him going was the support from our volunteers so he felt he was not alone.

Then a couple of months later, happily Ahmed was evacuated under a refugee program and could finally take the first steps towards freedom.

Now safely resettled in a Western country, Ahmed has helped other LGBTQ people in the same situation be resettled in other safe countries under refugee programs.

Since August 2021 we have directly helped over 100 LGBTQ people like Ahmad. 51 of our cases have now been resettled in safe countries where they are free to be themselves, and more are on the way.

In order to continue helping people like Ahmed trapped in hostile places, we desperately need your help. Even the smallest donation makes a difference. We need your support to help those who are unable to buy food or make necessary phone calls, or for assistance to reach embassy interviews during the resettlement process.

$20 could pay for vital phone credit for a month

$50 could pay towards food for a month

$100 could go towards shelter for a month.

If you're wondering whether your donation is too small - it isn't! Every penny makes a huge difference to someone desperately in need like Ahmed.

(* Names have been changed to protect privacy)