Beyond Bombshells: Safe Passage for a Gaza Family

Please note: Our fundraiser's currency is SEK or KR (Swedish Krona), not USD. Our goal is to reach 42,000 USD.

Keep in mind that, kr100 SEK = 10 USD, kr500 SEK = 50 USD , kr5000 SEK = 500 USD

Beyond Bombshells: Hope for the Alnabahin Family

Bonds Beyond Borders:

In the midst of Gaza’s turmoil, amidst the echoes of conflict and the shadow of despair, one family’s hope remains undiminished. I am Aktham, and for over three decades, my friend Hammam Alnabahin and his family have stood as a testament to unwavering resilience. From our school days in Egypt to the challenging present, Hammam has been more than a friend, he’s been my kin.

Displacement and Despair: The Family’s Daily Fight

Hammam’s family had to leave their home twice because of war. On October 10, 2023, they first went to stay with relatives when fighting started. Their new home was crowded, with more than fifty people looking for a safe place. But they couldn’t stay long. On December 23, 2023, they had to move again because of more fighting, this time to Rafah. There, they lived with other family members in a house that was too small for everyone.

Now, they’ve been in Rafah for four months, and life is hard every day. They work hard to get clean water to drink, make sure they have enough food, and take care of many other things just to keep going. Trying to live a normal life in this chaos is tough. They fight this battle not on some faraway battlefield, but right in their temporary home, which is filled with their quiet courage.

The Immediacy of Crisis:

A Race Against Time The situation, the danger, and the hardship Hammam’s family faces are beyond any anticipation. Time is not just a ticking clock, it is a measure of survival. Every moment is laden with the weight of what could be lost; time is extremely sensitive, for here, time costs blood and lives. The urgency to act is now, for delays are not merely inconvenient, they are lethal.

Loss and Longing:

The Rubble of Dreams Tragedy struck when they learned their home in Bureij had been reduced to rubble during the invasion. Now, Hammam and his family face the stark reality of having no place to return to, even when the war’s drums fall silent. Hammam’s livelihood, too, was a casualty of conflict; his work in Gaza City was lost, and his income ceased since the war’s inception.

Their house before and after the bombing

Hazem stands amidst the ruins of their destroyed house.

Dreams Deferred:

The Alnabahin Children’s Aspirations Their story, however, is not just one of loss and sorrow. It is a narrative of hope, of dreams deferred but not defeated. Hammam’s wife and children; Hazem, the budding graphic designer; Ahmad, the aspiring chef; Maryam, on the cusp of graduation; and young Yusuf, finding solace in sports amidst strife, all harbor aspirations that deserve to be realized.

Hammam and his entire family

A Mother’s Illness:

The Silent Struggle Their octogenarian mother, battling chronic illness, adds a poignant urgency to their plight. Hammam’s yearning to secure his family’s safety and well-being is palpable, a longing that transcends the chaos surrounding them.

Hammam's mother

The Threat of Tomorrow:

Seeking Refuge from Rafah The threat looms large, and the specter of invasion in Rafah hangs over them like a guillotine. The desire to move to a safe place is not just a wish, it’s a necessity, a desperate bid to escape the imminent danger to their lives.

The Cost of Safety:

A Price for Peace Leaving Gaza is a decision laden with heartache for Hammam and his family, yet it’s a decision that brooks no delay. The cost of relocating through Egypt, a bastion of safety, is a formidable $42,000. This sum encompasses the application fees for all seven family members, the exodus expenses from Gaza amounting to $5,000 per individual, irrespective of age, and the airfare from Cairo to Cape Town. Moreover, they must budget for a 3-4 week sojourn in Cairo while awaiting the completion of the necessary paperwork.

A New Horizon:

South Africa’s Promise The family’s odyssey takes them to South Africa, a nation extending a visa-free welcome to Palestinians. It’s here that they harbor hopes of forging a new beginning. The initial settlement costs for the first duo of months, spanning until employment is secured, include rent, furnishings, health coverage, and basic living expenses. When these additional outlays and the potential for unforeseen expenditures are taken into account, the aggregate amount required for Hammam and his kin to transition to a place of safety is approximately $42,000. The urgency of their relocation is amplified by the looming peril to their lives, a consequence of the impending threat of invasion in Rafah.

Conclusion:

A Call to Action Your support, in any measure, can be the catalyst for change. It can bridge the gap between despair and hope, between a life overshadowed by fear and a future where they can reconstruct their existence, free from the specter of war.

Every donation, every act of kindness, brings the Alnabahin family one step closer to the security they so desperately need. Contribute today and be part of their journey towards a new beginning.

Postscript:

The Power of One We recognize the widespread suffering in Gaza. As Aktham, Hammam’s steadfast friend, I hold onto the belief that your contribution, though it may seem like a “drop in the ocean,” will be the lifeline that the Alnabahin family clings to in these turbulent times.

Thank you for your time and consideration.