Alaa Al-Sawalhi, is in critical condition and his four children are going hungry.
Alaa, a father of four, was injured by shrapnel while on his way to collect aid from the American distribution center in Rafah, Gaza. A piece of shrapnel shattered his jaw, and another is lodged in his abdomen.
His doctors have said that if he does not receive surgery abroad within 15–20 days, his jaw will close permanently — leaving him unable to eat, speak, or recover.
Due to the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system, this surgery cannot be performed locally — and the family is living in extreme poverty without access to regular food or water. Alaa was the family’s sole provider, and they now have no income, no food security, and no medical resources.
A journalist on the ground has documented his case in this video:
Why This Matters
Alaa was the sole provider for his family. Since his injury, his wife has been caring for him full-time while struggling to feed their four young children. They currently have no source of income, no access to food, and no way out.
There are no hospitals in Gaza equipped to handle this kind of surgery due to the blockade and ongoing attacks. Alaa must be urgently evacuated to another country for medical treatment.
What the Funds Will Be Used For
We are raising funds to support Alaa and his family in this critical time
- Food and clean water for the family
- Local medical treatment and medications to manage pain and prevent further deterioration
- Basic needs and daily survival for Alaa’s wife and four children, who are now completely dependent on outside help
This is a real family, with real medical reports, ID, and proof of need.
What You Can Do
- Donate anything you can – even a small amount helps feed the family.
- Share this story – your share could reach someone who can make a life-saving difference.
- Pray for this family – and for every wounded parent trying to protect their children in Gaza.
Who We Are
I am Eemaan Ikhlaq, a Pakistani student currently living in Germany. I have been in direct contact with Alaa’s wife in Gaza and have received his medical report, identification, and updates about his condition. The official beneficiary of this fundraiser is my sister, Nida Ikhlaq, who is based in the UK. The funds will be withdrawn from GoFundMe to Nida Ikhlaq's bank account. Nida Ikhlaq will then use Western Union to send the money to Alaa directly. This will be done using Alaa's ID.
Who I’m Helping and My Relationship to Them:
This fundraiser is for Alaa Abdelrahim Abu Ibrahim Al-Sawalhi, a father of four who lives in Khan Yunis, Gaza. I am in direct contact with his wife, who shared his medical reports, identity documentation, and videos from Gaza journalists who are publicly advocating for his case. Although I do not personally know the family, I have been in ongoing contact with them and am working to help coordinate their case.
We’re Still Trying to Get Him Evacuated
While our main goal is to support Alaa and his family directly, we are also trying to get in contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) (https://www.who.int/) and local health authorities to explore the possibility of getting him evacuated for surgery. Time is running out, but we are doing everything we can.
Thank you for reading and for standing with Alaa. Every donation — no matter how small — goes directly toward helping a family survive one of the most difficult humanitarian crises in the world today.
With gratitude,
Eemaan
Organizer and beneficiary
Eemaan Ikhlaq
Organizer
Nida Ikhlaq
Beneficiary