A Lifeline for Rana and Her Family
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A Lifeline for Rana and Her Family: Escaping Genocide, Seeking Safety!
~~ Read Rana’s Letter Below ~~
Join us in extending a lifeline to Rana, my brother’s wife, and her family as they strive to escape the horrors of genocide in Gaza. Rana’s story is one of unimaginable hardship and resilience, as she navigates the harrowing realities of displacement, bombings, and the constant threat of violence while carrying her unborn child.
Your support will provide Rana, Hassan, Mira, and baby Aous with the chance to seek refuge and safety far from the atrocities of genocide.
Together, we can help them find sanctuary and rebuild their lives in a place where they can live without fear and uncertainty. Let’s unite to offer Rana and her family a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of genocide, and stand in solidarity with them as they seek a future free from violence and persecution. Every contribution brings them one step closer to safety and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
I’m not a legal translator, but I did my best translating Rana’s letter from Arabic.
================================
Salam,
I am Rana from Gaza, a resident of Jalaa Street, a mother of two children, Hassan, 8 years old, and Mira, 6 years old, and I am eagerly waiting for my new baby, Aous.
At the beginning of the War, I was in the middle of my seventh month of pregnancy in a critical and sensitive conditions, similar to my previous pregnancies. My previous 2 deliveries were by c-sections: 1st delivery was urgent cesarean due to abruption placenta and fetal distress. 2nd delivery also urgent cesarean due to obstructed labor in second stage of labor. 2nd baby diagnosed as pulmonary stenosis 1 week postnatal and refer urgently to Jerusalem for operation.
In the first week of the war, a house next to the tower that I lived in was bombed without warning, and I was hosting my family in my house, who had to evacuate their house in the AL-maqusi area after it was subjected to heavy shelling and calls for evacuation from the army .
My family and I left my house of fear of targeting the house next door again and we took refuge in my in-law’s house in Tel Al-Hawa. 3 days later, we received news that Israel targeted our apartment building directly at our neighbours apartment below our apartment that resulted in killing the whole family. My house was severely damaged and became uninhabitable. I was very affected and shocked. What if I had stayed in my house? Could that have been me and my children who became victims?! could I have been able to protect my children and my unborn kid? I tried to regain my strength because the next was harder and harsher.
I stayed at my In-Law’s house for two weeks that were the bloodiest, the most severe and the most difficult! the area was subjected to indescribable belts of fire! 50 rockets in a period of 3 hours with only lights of flames burning around the tower. A scene repeats for 3 consecutive days of horror, I was hugging my children trying to stay together in a safe corner in the house taking shelter so if we were to get martyred, we would all die together, or if get trapped under the rubble, we could help each other.
At these peak bombardment moments I knew that the baby feels what his mother feels. Despite the fear and terror i was feeling, the baby was moving and kicking nonstop. That alone gave me strength as I knew he’s still ok.
I woke up every morning wondering how we are still alive while knowing that doesn’t guarantee staying alive the rest of the day. We would be busy to secure the basics of staying alive; some food and supplies for our children, despite the scarcity of things. thank God we were able to manage our situation. At some point i felt a bit happiness when i was able to secure vitamins, treatment of clots and iron supplements for my pregnancy.
Until one day while we were having for lunch, the airstrikes and shelling intensified at the towers around us. we heard our neighbor calling to evacuate the tower quickly after receiving in a threat call to bomb it. I cannot recall how we got out. although we all have our emergency bags ready for evacuation, but due to the intensity of the airstrikes, we ended up evacuating without our belongings nor our emergency bags that included my medications, supplements, and all our cloths.
We evacuated the tower and my family and I took shelter at a near by school until we can decide how to proceed. When A tower across the street of the school was bombed and it was one of the devastating scenes for my children and myself. It was the most painful on us on top of the physical and mental exhaustion.
I was in mental breakdown. I cried alot with Hassan and Mira. I couldn’t be strong anymore. I needed to cry and empty my fear and pain. My In-Law’s house in Tel Al-Hawa was bombed; the whole tower was destroyed, and all our belongings along with our good memories, even the bad ones we endured the previous few days, are gone in-front of our eyes. It was devastating losing our last hope and the sense of safety.
My sister's fiancé decided to host us at his house in the center of Gaza City, we moved to live there. every stage of this journey so far harsher than the previous one. At this stage, we had to take a long breath, because no matter how I describe it it will stay unbearable. All life necessities were cut off; clean drinking water, gas for cooking, vegetables, milk, flour …etc. everything became very difficult to obtain that if found in small quantities.
it's hard to be a mom or dad in Gaza. I was embarrassed of going to bed starving making sure my children are fed first of what were able to barely obtain. I had to drink tap salty water for 3 days which is not suitable for drinking. I had an intestinal flu that made stop drinking that water for a day since because it is possible I can endure thirst, but not as much as I can endure the pain especially since I lost my medications and pharmacies shutdown.
After 10 days of staying at my sister's fiancé apartment, the bombardment and fire belts intensified around us again. I couldn’t control or hide my fear anymore when the ground invasion progressed and we were surprised by very violent clashes and tanks arrived to our area. The residents and displaced people in the neighboring school called the red cross to help us evacuate, but even the services of the Red Cross were shutdown!
We miraculously escaped death and decided to head to southern Gaza Strip despite the terror of what we heard from people had to cross the “safe corridor” israel created! For me it was the “death corridor”! we were forced to walk for two hours carrying our personal belongings, our children, and our fear! A walk loaded with humiliation and oppression.
In the middle of the bumpy road I got very tired and I wished I could sit for two minutes or drink a drop of water, but any movement threatens your life! it is forbidden to look behind, it is forbidden to sit, and it is forbidden to pick up what you drop! Then you enter a shed equipped with cameras, sensors and speakers with alerted soldiers and tanks behind sand hills, that I glimpsed on both sides of the corridor. Everyone has to enter it raising one hand carrying an ID, and raising the other one surrendering!
At that moment, the soldiers called on 3 people through the loudspeaker to advance towards them. And called on another to throw his personal belongings. Minutes later we heard gunshots, I panicked but I must not turn around to check on Hassan who is with his grandmother supports her while she protects him.
We crossed, and this is the first time in my life, I wish for death more than life due to the severity of physical and psychological fatigue and my fear of getting any complication affected by pregnancy. In the south, the situation is no better nor safer, but I was able to secure my pregnancy treatments and found vegetables that might restore my messed up nutritions.
A generous and noble family hosted us at Alburaij refugee camp, where we shared the limited resources for few weeks. We had couple of failed attempts to evacuate Gaza before we had to evacuate again when Israel started the ground operations in Alburaij. We magically evacuated to Rafah where we found a place that I can safely deliver my baby.
The journey to the hospital was not easy; I made it to the only hospital in the region with long walks I had to take on muddy roads and dense environment. The doctor checked and arranged my c-section without any overdue.
My heart smiled for the first time, few hours into the new year 2024! My baby Aous is here, safe and sound, al hamdu-lellah! Raising his little innocent arms looking forward to living life! Not knowing that just a month or so later, he might not be safe! The bombardment continues, but the most fear is not that I might not be able to catch my breath anymore; but the fear that I might lose my newborn, who didn’t even had the chance yet to make a memory in this world, or any of my children or losing the man who kept me strong so far. The fear that I will not find a home or a safe and healthy place for my kids in the foreseeable future.
I’m writing this letter to my Family outside of Gaza, and others who can help and support us to cross the border to a safe passage to reunite with our brothers and sisters in Canada! To establish a new life for Al-Hasan, Mera, and Aous, in a safe and healthy environment while building back our little home in Gaza and restore all our good memories!
Sincerely,
Rana Almadhoun
~~ Read Rana’s Letter Below ~~
Join us in extending a lifeline to Rana, my brother’s wife, and her family as they strive to escape the horrors of genocide in Gaza. Rana’s story is one of unimaginable hardship and resilience, as she navigates the harrowing realities of displacement, bombings, and the constant threat of violence while carrying her unborn child.
Your support will provide Rana, Hassan, Mira, and baby Aous with the chance to seek refuge and safety far from the atrocities of genocide.
Together, we can help them find sanctuary and rebuild their lives in a place where they can live without fear and uncertainty. Let’s unite to offer Rana and her family a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of genocide, and stand in solidarity with them as they seek a future free from violence and persecution. Every contribution brings them one step closer to safety and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
I’m not a legal translator, but I did my best translating Rana’s letter from Arabic.
================================
Salam,
I am Rana from Gaza, a resident of Jalaa Street, a mother of two children, Hassan, 8 years old, and Mira, 6 years old, and I am eagerly waiting for my new baby, Aous.
At the beginning of the War, I was in the middle of my seventh month of pregnancy in a critical and sensitive conditions, similar to my previous pregnancies. My previous 2 deliveries were by c-sections: 1st delivery was urgent cesarean due to abruption placenta and fetal distress. 2nd delivery also urgent cesarean due to obstructed labor in second stage of labor. 2nd baby diagnosed as pulmonary stenosis 1 week postnatal and refer urgently to Jerusalem for operation.
In the first week of the war, a house next to the tower that I lived in was bombed without warning, and I was hosting my family in my house, who had to evacuate their house in the AL-maqusi area after it was subjected to heavy shelling and calls for evacuation from the army .
My family and I left my house of fear of targeting the house next door again and we took refuge in my in-law’s house in Tel Al-Hawa. 3 days later, we received news that Israel targeted our apartment building directly at our neighbours apartment below our apartment that resulted in killing the whole family. My house was severely damaged and became uninhabitable. I was very affected and shocked. What if I had stayed in my house? Could that have been me and my children who became victims?! could I have been able to protect my children and my unborn kid? I tried to regain my strength because the next was harder and harsher.
I stayed at my In-Law’s house for two weeks that were the bloodiest, the most severe and the most difficult! the area was subjected to indescribable belts of fire! 50 rockets in a period of 3 hours with only lights of flames burning around the tower. A scene repeats for 3 consecutive days of horror, I was hugging my children trying to stay together in a safe corner in the house taking shelter so if we were to get martyred, we would all die together, or if get trapped under the rubble, we could help each other.
At these peak bombardment moments I knew that the baby feels what his mother feels. Despite the fear and terror i was feeling, the baby was moving and kicking nonstop. That alone gave me strength as I knew he’s still ok.
I woke up every morning wondering how we are still alive while knowing that doesn’t guarantee staying alive the rest of the day. We would be busy to secure the basics of staying alive; some food and supplies for our children, despite the scarcity of things. thank God we were able to manage our situation. At some point i felt a bit happiness when i was able to secure vitamins, treatment of clots and iron supplements for my pregnancy.
Until one day while we were having for lunch, the airstrikes and shelling intensified at the towers around us. we heard our neighbor calling to evacuate the tower quickly after receiving in a threat call to bomb it. I cannot recall how we got out. although we all have our emergency bags ready for evacuation, but due to the intensity of the airstrikes, we ended up evacuating without our belongings nor our emergency bags that included my medications, supplements, and all our cloths.
We evacuated the tower and my family and I took shelter at a near by school until we can decide how to proceed. When A tower across the street of the school was bombed and it was one of the devastating scenes for my children and myself. It was the most painful on us on top of the physical and mental exhaustion.
I was in mental breakdown. I cried alot with Hassan and Mira. I couldn’t be strong anymore. I needed to cry and empty my fear and pain. My In-Law’s house in Tel Al-Hawa was bombed; the whole tower was destroyed, and all our belongings along with our good memories, even the bad ones we endured the previous few days, are gone in-front of our eyes. It was devastating losing our last hope and the sense of safety.
My sister's fiancé decided to host us at his house in the center of Gaza City, we moved to live there. every stage of this journey so far harsher than the previous one. At this stage, we had to take a long breath, because no matter how I describe it it will stay unbearable. All life necessities were cut off; clean drinking water, gas for cooking, vegetables, milk, flour …etc. everything became very difficult to obtain that if found in small quantities.
it's hard to be a mom or dad in Gaza. I was embarrassed of going to bed starving making sure my children are fed first of what were able to barely obtain. I had to drink tap salty water for 3 days which is not suitable for drinking. I had an intestinal flu that made stop drinking that water for a day since because it is possible I can endure thirst, but not as much as I can endure the pain especially since I lost my medications and pharmacies shutdown.
After 10 days of staying at my sister's fiancé apartment, the bombardment and fire belts intensified around us again. I couldn’t control or hide my fear anymore when the ground invasion progressed and we were surprised by very violent clashes and tanks arrived to our area. The residents and displaced people in the neighboring school called the red cross to help us evacuate, but even the services of the Red Cross were shutdown!
We miraculously escaped death and decided to head to southern Gaza Strip despite the terror of what we heard from people had to cross the “safe corridor” israel created! For me it was the “death corridor”! we were forced to walk for two hours carrying our personal belongings, our children, and our fear! A walk loaded with humiliation and oppression.
In the middle of the bumpy road I got very tired and I wished I could sit for two minutes or drink a drop of water, but any movement threatens your life! it is forbidden to look behind, it is forbidden to sit, and it is forbidden to pick up what you drop! Then you enter a shed equipped with cameras, sensors and speakers with alerted soldiers and tanks behind sand hills, that I glimpsed on both sides of the corridor. Everyone has to enter it raising one hand carrying an ID, and raising the other one surrendering!
At that moment, the soldiers called on 3 people through the loudspeaker to advance towards them. And called on another to throw his personal belongings. Minutes later we heard gunshots, I panicked but I must not turn around to check on Hassan who is with his grandmother supports her while she protects him.
We crossed, and this is the first time in my life, I wish for death more than life due to the severity of physical and psychological fatigue and my fear of getting any complication affected by pregnancy. In the south, the situation is no better nor safer, but I was able to secure my pregnancy treatments and found vegetables that might restore my messed up nutritions.
A generous and noble family hosted us at Alburaij refugee camp, where we shared the limited resources for few weeks. We had couple of failed attempts to evacuate Gaza before we had to evacuate again when Israel started the ground operations in Alburaij. We magically evacuated to Rafah where we found a place that I can safely deliver my baby.
The journey to the hospital was not easy; I made it to the only hospital in the region with long walks I had to take on muddy roads and dense environment. The doctor checked and arranged my c-section without any overdue.
My heart smiled for the first time, few hours into the new year 2024! My baby Aous is here, safe and sound, al hamdu-lellah! Raising his little innocent arms looking forward to living life! Not knowing that just a month or so later, he might not be safe! The bombardment continues, but the most fear is not that I might not be able to catch my breath anymore; but the fear that I might lose my newborn, who didn’t even had the chance yet to make a memory in this world, or any of my children or losing the man who kept me strong so far. The fear that I will not find a home or a safe and healthy place for my kids in the foreseeable future.
I’m writing this letter to my Family outside of Gaza, and others who can help and support us to cross the border to a safe passage to reunite with our brothers and sisters in Canada! To establish a new life for Al-Hasan, Mera, and Aous, in a safe and healthy environment while building back our little home in Gaza and restore all our good memories!
Sincerely,
Rana Almadhoun
Co-organizers (2)
Doaa Almadhoun
Organizer
Abdallah Almadhoun
Co-organizer