Help me and my family to rebuild our life

I am Ibrahim Abu Karsh, a 29-year-old man with big dreams and limitless ambitions. I graduated from Al-Azhar University with a degree in Health Administration, believing the world was open before me and job opportunities would soon come my way. But reality proved otherwise.

Today, I reach out to you for your kindness and humanity to help me and my family: Sawsan, my mum, 54 AbdAlhakeem, my dad 64, my sister Reem (27) and brother Amjad (18), and Myriam (7 ), Aboud (5) and Ali (3), my niece and nephews.

We have lost everything and are now living in tents in Rafah. We have nowhere else to go and have been living out in the open for over 178 days. I am trying to evacuate to Egypt to help them eventually rebuild our lives in Bulgium, by our side.

Gaza, my beloved home is completely destroyed. My family’s house was in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. They had to leave it very suddenly on a Friday almost 6 months ago now.

On October 13, the army threatened to evacuate the north. To find more safety, my family evacuated their home and headed to the south, with only their clothes and important papers. They thought it would perhaps last a week and then they could go home. But what's been temporary bare survival is now what they are faced with every day. They took shelter in my aunt’s house in Khan Younes. But then they stormed Khan Younes. They lived a terrifying night and were surrounded by tanks. They managed to escape and make the 5km walk to Rafah by the beach, with the children and what they could take. Now they are living in tents in Rafah, which is under threat of attack. There is no other place to escape to if they storm the city of Rafah. They are all on top of each other there, camping 24/7 now after a long winter.

The war has stripped us of any sense of safety, crucial medical care, and the warmth of their home, leaving them vulnerable to the elements and the uncertainties of having had to move over 3 times.

My father is battling a coronary artery blockage, and my mother suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. Right now, they can’t get the necessary medical care because of the ongoing onslaught on Gaza and the little medical capacity that remains.

The situation is growing more desperate with each passing day, as the bombardments around Rafah and all across the Strip are relentless.

I had been running his own new-build apartment cleaning business while also washing carpets and sofas. All his equipment was destroyed by a missile strike.

My younger brother, Amjad, a promising student and freelance designer, Amjad, loved learning very much. He had a passion for programming and design. He taught himself graphic design, like his big sister and was working as a freelancer at the age of 16. This year he was supposed to finish high school and move on to university, but the unexpected happened. Now, he is helping provide for the family and making sure there is water, woods and helping my mother knead the flour and bake it for bread. That's when flour can be found.

How you can help us evacuate

The cost per person to be able to register with a travel company to leave Gaza via Rafah costs 5,000 USD per adult and 2,500 USD per child under 14 years old.

There are 5 adults, my mum Sawsan, my dad AbdAlhakeem, my sister Reem and my brothers Ibrahim and Amjad. Reem has 4 kids, Myriam, Aboud and Eid who are all under 14.

The cost for 5 adults is of 25000 USD and the cost for the children of 10,000 USD, for a total of 35000 USD.

Your donation will give my family the means to escape and survive.

Gaza as we know it is gone. Nothing remains, no universities, no hospital or medical equipment that hasn’t been under attack or destroyed, no road, no school, no bakery, no water facility or agricultural land that haven’t been obliterated. Even if the fighting stops tomorrow, they will not be able to function there. Gaza is no longer suitable for life. We wish it were different, but we must now do what we can.

We are deeply grateful for every share, donation, and word of encouragement. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting our family at this time. We never thought we would find ourselves in this situation. We just want to live normal lives.

With Gratitude

Ibrahim