Edinburgh woman launches fundraiser after aid mission to Gaza leaves her devastated

An Edinburgh resident and aid worker is raising funds for Gazans after witnessing “indescribable devastation” on a recent aid trip to the region.

Andrea Fraser, an Edinburgh-based lawyer and her friend Erin Leach, Director of the Global Advocacy Alliance, are cold-plunging into the icy sea in Portobello for 80 days for the cause.

The women are over 50 days into their challenge and hope to raise £7,000 (if you want to support you can donate here).

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The funds will be spent on watermakers - portable devices that can convert dirty water and seawater into drinkable water.

Andrea travelled to the Gaza Strip in October on an aid trip. She realised that dehydration and waterborne illness were among the most critical problems facing Gazans.

She said: “The situation in Gaza is indescribable. The level of destruction and devastation is apocalyptic. Everywhere you look there is sand and rubble. And children. Children living in the dirt, eating, sleeping, playing in the dirt. The walking wounded are everywhere - people with broken or missing limbs simply doing the best they can to survive with woefully limited infrastructure.”

She added: “Unfortunately, the nature of Gaza is unlike any other warzone. People are confined to a very small area that is constantly moving. You need to be creative when coming up with humanitarian solutions.”

The watermakers fit into a suitcase and can be picked up and moved quickly during evacuations. Andrea has run similar aid projects in Ukraine where she said the devices were extremely effective.

The Portobello resident committed to 80 days of cold plunging as a fun way to draw attention to the cause. Her friend came up with the idea to run into the freezing water for nearly three months and Andrea joked, “I have had a lot of resentment over the last few weeks.”

As of November 25, Andrea’s friend is at day 69 of her challenge with the end in sight. Andrea is just 10 days behind at day 59, having paused her plunges during her time in Gaza.

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Temperatures plummeted across Scotland in recent weeks and Andrea commented on the experience of taking the frigid plunge every day.

She said: “Beforehand, the thought of going is horrible. When you’re in it takes your breath away. But afterwards you get a buzz for the rest of the day. The funny thing with cold water swimming is you never feel more alive.”

Andrea has lost sensation in her fingers and toes since beginning her challenge but said “I’ve been told it will come back eventually.”

She reflected on one of her most challenging plunges where she was at the beach one morning before work. It was a rainy day and Andrea had forgotten to do laundry, so she stood on the grey, wet beach in nothing but a bikini.

Andrea laughed: “I was thinking how bizarre I must have looked. It must have been about a week into the challenge.”

However, the Portobello resident also spoke about the gratitude she feels for doing the plunges for a cause she believes in.

Andrea continued: “At the end of day it’s a privilege. You come out [of the water] and it’s a reminder of how lucky you really are compared to what people are facing.

“I think about how different life would be if I was simply born somewhere else. I have a lot of gratitude.”

She added: “When you come out of Gaza, it feels so hopeless. When you come out, [this fundraiser] gets you out of bed everyday, you feel you’re making a difference. It’s important that the world doesn’t become disillusioned - you can always do something. This is my little way of doing something.”

If you want to support Andrea’s efforts, you can donate to her crowdfunder.

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