Rescue & Evacuate What’s Left of My Family From the Gaza War
Donation protected
Hello, I'm Al, and I'm reaching out to you for support. My daughter's family in Gaza urgently needs help, and I'm determined to make a difference.
Having grown up in Gaza, I recently traveled from the US to Egypt, where I safely brought my daughter, her husband, and my two beloved grandchildren out of Gaza. Yet, the challenges persist. Life in Gaza has been incredibly difficult, especially in recent months.
Now, my grandchildren need access to education and a stable environment. Our goal is to relocate the remaining members of my daughter's family out of Gaza, ensuring their safety and providing them with the opportunities they deserve.
Your contribution will make a real difference in their lives, offering hope for a brighter future. Thank you for your kindness and support.
And directly from my daughter's husband Hazem, this is exactly what they're going through -
My name is Hazem, and I'm a biomedical engineer and influencer living and working in Gaza City. I have two children, Azam and Dina, whose love has been my anchor during the ongoing war. Just seeing them gives me the strength to persevere, but the thought of harm coming to them, like many Gazans have experienced, fills me with helplessness and pain. I've lost 15 family members and 4 friends.
My son survived a terrifying incident when a quadcopter fired indiscriminately overhead, narrowly missing him. This wasn't the first danger we faced; our neighborhood was completely destroyed, leaving us stranded in the basement for over 18 hours. When we finally escaped, we couldn't take anything with us, not even clothes, during our first displacement. Subsequent relocations due to forced evacuations and bombings further separated us, adding to our hardships.
After enduring so much, I never imagined my family would end up in an abandoned room barely fit for habitation, where the roof leaks constantly, exposing us to freezing temperatures. For 60 days, my children suffered from winter illnesses, and my wife endured untreated rheumatism while we slept on the floor.
After 150 days of war, I had to borrow money just to escape the death trap we were in. We lost two homes, along with those of our extended family, and my workplace was destroyed. My wife, a university lecturer pursuing her doctorate, lost her job and had to abandon her studies due to the destruction of both universities.
Now, I stand helpless before my elderly parents, sisters, and mother-in-law, all facing chronic illnesses, daily bombings, displacement, and shortages of medicines and food.
The donated funds will go towards facilitating our journey through the Rafah border crossing to Egypt, as well as covering vital expenses including temporary accommodation, food, medical care, and basic necessities for my family. Every contribution, regardless of its size, will have a meaningful impact in aiding my family's recovery and providing them with the essential support they need during this challenging time of devastation.
Organizer
Al ElShawa
Organizer
Redwood City, CA