Bringing My Pregnant Mother to Safety!

Bringing My Pregnant Mother to Safety!

“I couldn’t believe my family survived that far. I can’t be more grateful. It was just another night of war until my family could have been next in the news. Thankfully, they managed to flee after a house near their place of refuge was targeted and turned into rubble. They moved to a tent in a crowded camp, considered safer, at least for now.”

I’m reaching out to you on behalf of my niece Naela. Her family has been through unimaginable times in the aftermath of the Gaza-Israel war. Constant fear, the struggle to survive, feeling hopeless and helpless – my family has had to endure all this.

My name is Naela, a 3rd-year medical student from Gaza City in Palestine. I’m currently studying medicine at Zagazig University in Egypt.

Let me introduce my family to you:

My mother: Mai Shafout, A dedicated chemistry teacher and a loving mother of five.

She is currently 34 weeks pregnant. Over the last 6 months, despite her determination to have a healthy baby, she suffered from a poor diet lacking key nutrients, feeding mostly on canned vegetables and meats. She hardly had any monitoring of her pregnancy or medical examinations. According to doctors, she can only give birth through a Caesarean section operation, and they say she is currently under high risk of preterm labor. Medical services in Gaza are under immense pressure, and undergoing major surgery in these conditions could harm her life or her possibly premature baby.

My father: Basel Shafout, a pediatrician who was working at Al-Nasser Pediatric Hospital. He did save many babies' lives, but now feels helpless to help his baby.

My beautiful young sister Bana; she has not been coping well through this horrific war. My parents are taking very good care of her, but can’t do much when it comes to the bombings all day and night leaving her scared.

All of my family members who used to live a happy, decent life are now facing unprecedented challenges to survive. Besides the constant indiscriminate bombing that caused them to constantly move from one place to another, their daily struggle to provide the minimum life essentials has not stopped since October 7th.

They still find times to laugh and feel grateful for being healthy and together, for simple things like a hot meal or warm, clean covers.

With your help, I am looking to help my mother and the rest of my family evacuate to safety in Egypt through the Gaza-Egypt crossing. Your donations will invest in my family’s future, put an end to their everyday suffering, and help a mother hold her baby in peace.

The fees required to cross the border into Egypt would be paid to Halah Consulting and Tourism Company in Rafah as follows:

• $5,000 USD or £4,000 Sterling Pound per adult

• $2,500 USD or £2,000 Sterling Pound per child

A total of $25,000 USD or £20,000 Sterling Pounds are needed to secure the permits to leave Gaza, as well as crossing fees at the Rafah-Egypt border.

Another $6,000 USD or £5,000 Sterling Pounds will be needed to cover medical costs of the Caesarean section surgery, GoFundMe fees, money transfer fees, and finally, essential living costs for the family residence in Egypt.

• $500 USD or £400 Sterling Pound for medical costs

• $1,000 USD or £800 Sterling Pound for GoFundMe fees

• $1,000 USD or £800 Sterling Pound for money transfer fees

• $3,500 USD or £2,800 Sterling Pound for living costs for the family residence in Egypt for 3 months

Every donation, no matter how small, will make a significant difference to my family’s safety. The funds raised will be used transparently and efficiently to ensure that every dollar is spent on ensuring their safety.

My heartfelt thanks to you for taking the time to read this and share it! I tried to keep it short even though the suffering is enormous. Please reach out if you have any questions or require further information.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and generosity.

As a small token of gratitude, handwritten thank you notes will be offered for larger donations!

Yours sincerely,

Naela