I have been in contact with Hazem and his sister for over a year, hearing their story. They have been trying to survive in the most terrifying of situations.

I will let his own words speak for themselves:

“My name is Hazem Mohammad, a young man from Gaza… and this is my story, lived day by day among the rubble, hunger, and fear.

I was once a university student, walking to class with my notebook in hand and dreams in my heart. I had simple goals to graduate, work, support my father and siblings, buy them new clothes, and build a small home where we could live in dignity.

I loved learning. I believed that education was my path out of poverty. I didn’t have much, but I had hope… and a future I dreamed of.

Then the war came like death, without warning. In a moment, everything collapsed. Our home was reduced to dust. My books, bed, clothes, photos everything buried beneath the rubble. All I had left was myself and I now carry this self through a world that barely resembles life.

Today, I am no longer a student. I am displaced. I’m the eldest son who wakes up each morning, not to study, but to walk through destroyed streets searching for firewood. I carry gallons of water on my back for miles under the blazing sun, just to bring a few drops to my father and siblings.

We are living through a real famine. No food. No clean water. No electricity. No gas. No medicine. Sometimes we eat once a day, and sometimes nothing at all. My youngest brother cries at night from hunger, and as his older brother, I stand helpless with no milk, no bread, not even a biscuit to offer him.

I’ve started developing skin conditions. My body is weakening Not just from hunger, but from contaminated water, cold, exhaustion, and despair. But the deepest pain is not in my body… it’s in my heart.

My heart breaks every day when I see my father trying to appear strong in front of my siblings, or when I hear my brothers and sisters ask: “Why is our life like this? What did we do wrong?”

I’ve never asked for much in life… But today, I write to you because I can no longer carry this alone. I’m not asking for luxury only the bare minimum: to keep my family alive.”

The money you donate will help to pay for food, medicine and other essentials for them to survive. Every penny and cent counts, even if you cannot donate, a share will be hugely appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this in any case.