A public appeal has raised thousands of pounds after members of acamily died following a sea incident that has shaken “our community to its core”, the Palestinian Forum in Britain said.
Hassan El-Khawas, 55, his partner Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old daughter Sara El-Khawas were confirmed dead after being pulled from the water on August 18 at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.
Their six-year-old daughter, Saja El-Khawas, was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died on Friday.
An online fundraiser set up by the group, which supports the UK’s Palestinian community, has surpassed its £20,000 goal, raising more than £22,000.
Over 400 people donated to help cover funeral and repatriation costs to Lebanon and support the family.
Mr El-Khawas was a Palestinian refugee from the Rashidieh Camp in Lebanon, according to the Palestinian embassy.
Rashidieh Camp is on the Mediterranean coast in southern Lebanon and is one of the most populous Palestinian refugee camps in the country.
The appeal page said that funds will go directly to the family’s account to manage the arrangements.
open image in galleryIt added: “This initiative is an independent, community-driven effort.
“When an unimaginable tragedy strikes our community, we do not wait for grieving families to ask for help, our duty is to step forward and ask: “What can we do to support them?”
The forum’s president, Adnan Hmidan, said the level of solidarity received was “not unusual” within the Arab community, Palestinian diaspora and British friends and supporters.
“The humanitarian cause is what brings everyone together,” he said.
He added that people have been “rushing to help, volunteer, offer services, provide food and much more”.
It is believed the family travelled from their home in London to visit Shoreham and entered the water from the beach near Shoreham Fort at about 2pm before they got into difficulty.
Police, paramedics, coastguard crews and a lifeboat were at the scene where the four people were recovered from the water.
Sussex Police has said their investigation remains open, but after a review of CCTV footage and initial witness accounts, it is currently thought the deaths were a tragic accident, with no third-party involvement.
Chief Superintendent James Collis said: “I cannot imagine the devastation felt by the wider family of Hassan, Zeina, Sara and Saja after this loss. On behalf of everyone at Sussex Police, I extend our thoughts and heartfelt condolences.
“The impact of this tragedy has been felt across the country, and I know the Shoreham community, emergency responders and all involved will continue to be affected for a long time to come.”