Support Nada's Journey to Safety

Hello everyone,

I am Nada, a displaced person from northern Gaza to the south. I live with my nine family members in a poor-quality tent, just a few meters from the beach. This is my story.

Before the war, I was an ambitious young woman with many dreams. I am 20 years old, in my third year of university, studying at college. At the same time, I am an artist and a writer of short stories. I use my talents in drawing and writing to express my feelings and escape the thoughts of war and destruction around me. I have lived in Gaza City my entire life—a small homeland that accommodates us all. Despite its high population density, there is space for everyone.

During my displacement from northern Gaza to the south, I believed life would be safer there. I thought we had been displaced enough in Gaza, as since the third day of the war, I had not entered my home and had moved within Gaza more than 12 times. In the past two weeks alone, I have moved six more times, bringing the total to over 20 displacements within the Gaza Strip over more than 336 days of war. Now, I find myself in an unbearably hot tent on dry land, where water is available only every 4 or 5 days, whether for drinking or other uses. Later, I was forced to move to the beach, placing my poor-quality tent less than 8 meters from the sea due to the entry of the occupying forces' machinery into the area where I was staying. The only available water is polluted sea water for daily uses like bathing and washing clothes. When it comes

to food, there are very few options, mostly canned goods that are more harmful than helpful. You might find a moment of calm with a cup of coffee after struggling to start a fire, but you can only take your first sip alongside the sounds of bombing, as the fabric of your tent offers no protection from the shells and bombs. Shrapnel from rockets and remnants of bullets from the occupying forces' attacks on fishermen and nearby tents fall around your tent daily, making you vulnerable to attacks at any moment.

It is also important to address the issue that concerns everyone outside Gaza—the biological aspects of living in a tent. It is essential to note that living conditions severely affect one's ability to manage personal biological needs, especially for women who require specific care during menstruation or pregnancy. Discussing these topics in detail is challenging, but I might later be able to gather my thoughts and elaborate on each issue.

Before the war, I had many dreams I was always striving to achieve. I was excelling in my studies and university. But then the war destroyed my beautiful city, my home, and my dreams. I lost my lovely room, my beloved computer, which I used for studying, my tablet used for creating my beautiful artwork, and my books which I enjoyed reading. I was also deeply saddened by the loss of many close friends due to the occupation’s rockets and, unfortunately, many of my university teachers as well.

As if that wasn't enough, my family and I are now living in a small tent with very few basic necessities and medical supplies. We left our home to save our lives, each of us carrying only clothes and a bottle of water for survival.

My days are now harsh, difficult, and bitter, filled with suffering, bloodshed, and many innocent victims. I have been suffering from stomach pain for months due to bacterial infections and cannot access treatment because all hospitals have been destroyed. I experience extreme fatigue due to severe vitamin deficiencies and significant weight loss.

I used to enjoy a variety of foods at home, spending my days peacefully in my room with my computer, studying, drawing, participating in social gatherings, and engaging in many activities to develop my skills for a bright future. Now, every night, my nine family members and I sleep amidst the sounds of explosions and rockets. We sleep on the ground with a constant fear of the sea's tides flooding our tent. We have no bed or mattress, and it has become a painful routine to wake up each morning with back and joint pain at our young age.

Our days revolve around searching for food and water, which has become nearly impossible to obtain easily or affordably. Prices have skyrocketed, and markets are empty of basic necessities. We spend hours just to secure a little bread and water and collect wood in a dangerous journey to light a fire at night. With no electricity, we must walk several kilometers daily to access poor internet to connect with the outside world.

I never expected the war to persist with such brutality until the moment I write these words. The Israeli occupation has destroyed my life and my family's lives with its deadly rockets, and now we are homeless.

The suffering of war knows no bounds, as we witness today here in Gaza. We are living under harsh conditions and limitations beyond description. Our lives have been profoundly impacted by the ongoing war; we have lost everything we owned, and our daily lives have come to a standstill.

Therefore, I ask you to stand by me and my family in this difficult time and extend a helping hand for our survival. I need your financial support to allow me and my family to live safely and peacefully.

Every donation you make contributes to rebuilding our lives and reviving our hope.

Thank you for your understanding and solidarity with us in these challenging circumstances. Please feel free to share my story with your family and friends, as every bit of support means a great deal to me.

- Where will the funds be spent?

- Providing basic necessities like water and food for me and my nine family members, and obtaining medical treatment and supplies.

- Acquiring a computer and a tablet to continue my university studies and drawing.

- Covering the website's commission and withdrawing the funds.

Thank you once again for your generous support and strong solidarity.

(A note from the organizer):

Hello all, I am Tiffany, based in the USA. I am organizing this campaign on behalf of Nada, a dear friend. I will be transferring any donations received to her on a weekly basis, and I implore you to at the very least share this campaign so that Nada can have a better chance of surviving her circumstances. Thank you!