Salem needs help evacuating from Gaza

Dear friends, kind strangers, and brothers & sisters in humanity,

My name is Salem Al-Ashi, a 20-year-old accounting student from the heart of Gaza, currently in my second year at Al-Azhar University. Before the war, I was on track to be top of my class, fuelled by my ambition to provide a better future for myself and my family. Unfortunately, this has been put on hold since my university along with my dreams have been destroyed by the relentless bombardment.

Today, I reach out with a heavy heart and a plea for your kindness and support.

Gaza, a place that I call home, has been transformed into a landscape of destruction and despair. The reality we live in is one of constant fear, where the sounds of explosions drown out the dreams and aspirations of its people. In what seems like an instant, everything my family and I held dear had been ripped away by the chaos of war.

My family and I were very close-knit, enjoying simple pleasures and cherishing moments together. Now, all that remains are memories scattered among the rubble of our destroyed home. We witnessed death with our own eyes and were forced to flee our home in fear of our lives. During this time, we also received the news of the deaths of several family members due to the indiscriminate bombardments. Now, I find myself displaced, sharing a cramped room with six others, separated from my family.

Today, I am not just seeking to fundraise; I am seeking to save the lives of my beloved family members who are currently trapped in a nightmare. My family consists of my parents, my two sisters and their children and my brother — all of whom depend on your generosity to escape and begin anew.

This campaign is not just about escaping; it’s about reclaiming a future where my niece and nephew can grow up without the echo of bombs, where my family can live without the shadow of fear, and where we can once again embrace the joys of life without grief.

Your support means everything to us. It represents hope, safety, and the promise of a new beginning. I urge you to consider donating, no matter the amount, as every contribution brings us a step closer to safety. If you are unable to donate, sharing this campaign within your networks expands our reach and increases our chances of survival.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Salem Al-Ashi