Dear good people,

I have an urgent request for you. My friend Eman, her husband Ahmed, and three children (Alaa, 9, Amal, 16, and Bassem, 17) desperately need your help. Right now in G*za, they’re facing food and shelter insecurity, and threats of displacement and fear. Eman and her family have been enduring this nightmare for over two years. I urge you to join me in supporting Eman and her family as they seek freedom and self-determination.

My name is Ellen Perry, and I'm a tattoo artist in New York City. Since the summer of 2024, Eman and I have corresponded almost daily. For the last year and a half, I have not only been privy to the devastation and suffering she has faced, but her enormously strong spirit. Eman is one of the most gracious people I’ve ever met. She is a devoted mother, dedicated to her children’s health, safety, joy, education and freedom. She is also kind, funny and an amazing cook. In the face of the unspeakable, she is incredibly loving and resilient.

In 2023, the Ouda family home in Tuski al-Saftawi was destroyed, forcing them to flee to Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Since then, the Ouda family has been displaced three more times to escape virulent attacks. When a “truce” was announced in February 2025, Eman and her family finally returned to northern Gaza, using funds from your donations to construct a shelter from scratch. As they’ve weathered further threats, harsh conditions and food scarcity, the Ouda family has remained steadfast in the ongoing fight for their homeland. We have the opportunity, right now, to support Eman and her family.

It can be easy to hide behind the comfort of our lives, distancing ourselves emotionally and spiritually from the suffering of others. We must actively choose to keep our hearts open and stay in touch with our humanity.

I have committed to fundraise for Eman and her family because she is a human being who fundamentally deserves to live free of oppression and granted the right to self-determination.

Material aid works. I have seen donations from people like you help Eman’s family fend off starvation, mend a damaged shelter and even enroll her children in school. We live in a time where the click of a button can make a significant difference in the quality of another human being’s life. I urge you to consider making a tangible impact today.

Here’s how it works: The money you contribute to this GoFundMe will be sent directly to Eman's family. It will be used to provide food, medical supplies, materials for shelter repair, and education for her three children. Unfortunately, there are huge commission fees incurred by this transfer, so please keep this in mind when deciding how much to donate.

Thank you, my friend, for reading and donating. Be well.