Beloved friends, family, and kind-hearted supporters,

I am reaching out to you with great urgency and desperation. My name is Abood Najjar. I’m from Gaza city, Palestine and I'm currently a third-year college student at Sewanee: The University of the South. I’m finding myself thousands of miles away, feeling helpless as my family endures the hardships of the ongoing war in Gaza. The situation has grown increasingly urgent, and I'm reaching out for your help to raise funds for the emergency evacuation of my family, consisting of five members: my parents, my 12-year-old brother, Ibrahim, my 24-year-old brother, Ahmed, and my 25-year-old sister, Rose, from Gaza.

Terrified for their safety, my family, originally from Al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza, have been displaced three times and are currently residing at a small apartment in Rafah with 30 other relatives. Our whole neighborhood in the North has been destroyed.

Due to the already terrible situation in Gaza before the war, my father was unemployed, while my mom worked as a part-time middle school English teacher. Both of my parents have now become unemployed. My brother, Ahmed, is a lawyer and he’s also unemployed. My sister, Rose, is a dedicated nurse who tirelessly puts her life on the line every day to assist and care for our community.

On top of the terrifying war, my family have been repeatedly getting sick for the past two months with no access to medical treatment. The lack of food, water, and basic supplies only worsens their conditions.

With Israel announcing a ground entry into Rafah, my family lacks a safe refuge and must evacuate the Gaza strip. This situation underscores the urgent need for our intervention.

After describing Gaza as "unlivable," the Canadian immigration minister, Marc Miller, announced a special program for Canadian citizens or permanent residents to be able to be reunited with their families from Gaza. Luckily, I have a Canadian aunt, Maisa, who is ready to file the paperwork. However, this program unfortunately does not provide any financial support for the newcomers, meaning that my family will have to pay for all of their travel and settlement expenses on their own.

With your support and generosity, we aim to raise a target amount of $50000. The funds will be allocated for the following purposes:

- Permits and crossing fees required to leave Gaza at the Egypt-Gaza border in Rafah ($5100 per person). I’ve been in contact with people in Egypt who are trying to help, so this is especially urgent. Your generous donation is needed to complete the process.

- Accommodation in Cairo while awaiting immigration paperwork.

- Flight tickets for 5 individuals from Cairo to Canada.

- Resettlement expenses in Canada until they secure employment (including rent, winter attire, health coverage, and living expenses).

- Covering GoFundMe transaction fees, which amount to (2.9% + $0.30 per donation).

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Your support, whether big or small, will make a significant difference in ensuring the safety of our loved ones. We are grateful for your compassion and generosity during this challenging time. Please share this with friends and colleagues and let's bring my family to safety.

My family is just one among thousands facing similar crises and in need of assistance. Any surplus funds beyond my family needs will be directed towards aiding others in escaping Gaza to safety.

Update: GoFundMe has asked me to clarify that my host mom in Sewanee, Abby Colbert, is receiving the funds transfer on our behalf to help me with the finances and delivering the money to my family.

With Gratitude,

Abood Najjar