Emergency: Help Evacuate My Family from Gaza

My name is Mahmoud Algharabli and I am creating this campaign to raise funds to evacuate my family in Gaza.

On December 24th, I arrived back to the USA from Egypt full of disappointment and dismay because I’m coming back alone and my mother is not with me. My mother Somaya Algharabli and my family are in Gaza and because I’m a US citizen I have been trying to get them out to Egypt. I arrived in Egypt optimistic because my mother had an immigration interview with the American Embassy in November; I didn’t have any doubts that she would be able to leave Gaza. That wasn’t the case. She wasn’t approved to be added to the list of people leaving Gaza or any of my family members through the American authorities in the borders.

Today, after trying everything here in the USA and in Egypt, I’m reaching out to you for your support and generosity. I need your help to have my family cross to Egypt. While I have been supporting them in Gaza, I’m not able to cover the amount of money needed to have them cross to Egypt.

The coordinates and authorities on the borders are asking for at least 7000 dollars EACH PERSON to cross and in addition to the other spending money needed for transportation and other fees.

My family and their displacement:

My family and I are from Alturkman neighborhood in Alshujayia east of Gaza City. Once the aggression started on Gaza they evacuated and had to move at least three times. They are currently in Rafah, living in a tent on the street. They use public bathrooms in a hospital. Along with my mother, there is my brother, 2 sisters and their kids. They first evacuated to Alrimal neighborhood in Gaza city and about ten days later the building next door was bombed. They evacuated again to Deir Albalah where they shared a small home with other families. At some point, there was at least sixty people in one room, but they didn’t mind. They said we’re at least safe. About a month later, the families in the area woke up in the middle of the night to heavy bombardment surrounding them. My family left everything behind (which wasn’t much). Thirty minutes later the building they left was bombed (people who stayed behind reported). Finally, they arrived to Rafah but with no destination in mind. On an empty street corner, they built a tent from wood and plastic which cost them $420. From before sunrise, my family begin their day with starting the fire to keep them warm and use it to cook whatever is available or whatever they find. My nieces and nephews have been sick and without medical attention. I need to feel they are safe and the only way for that is to have them cross to Egypt.

My mother:

Somaya Algharabli is a 58 years old math teacher. She has high blood pressure, arrhythmia, asthma and currently the flu. She is running out of medicine and she doesn’t have access to any medical care.

For the past year, my family here in the USA and I talked about what our life would look like when my mother comes to stay with us after we applied for immigration for her. We arranged for her own room. My wife has filled the room’s closet with things for my mother like blankets, towels, and even hair clips “for when khalti (my mother in law) comes” she said. When we found out that the embassy sent an appointment for my mother, we felt these plans were finally going to happen. The USA authorities have failed us. For that, we’re going a different route and we need your help with it.

I have lost many family members during this war. I don’t want to experience anymore loss. With your help, we will arrange for the money to be sent to my uncle in Egypt and he will take care of arranging for my mother, siblings ( 1 brother and 2 sisters) and their kids to be added to the list of people leaving Gaza.

Your contributions would help fund the following:

-$51,000 for Permits and crossing fees: The bulk of the funds for this campaign will be used to cover the expenses associated with obtaining permits to leave Gaza and crossing fees required at the Egypt-Gaza border in Rafah. The amount breaks down to around $7000 per adult and $1000 per child. 6 adults and 9 kids

-$5000 immediate relief fund

- Approximately $1624 to cover transaction fees for GOFUNDME (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).

Your donation, no matter how small, will make an impact. You will be contributing to getting my family to safety and getting one step closer to our reunion. The funds will be transparent and every dollar will go towards securing their evacuation.

Please share this campaign widely to help us reach our goal and bring my family to safety. Your support means more than you can imagine. I am incredibly grateful for any assistance you can provide during this challenging time.

Thank you for your compassion and generosity. Together, we can make change and help my family find the safety and security they need.