Asalamu alaikum,

This is difficult to do, as this is the second time I’ve had to organize a fundraiser for family in desperate need to escape the dire situation in Gaza, but the situation is worsening everyday. More members of my family have made the extremely difficult decision to flee their beloved homeland after five months of constant bombings, violence, and starvation. I am fundraising for ten members of my family to evacuate Gaza and seek safety and stability.

The family home in Gaza City was destroyed and they fled to Rafah at the Egyptian border. The immediacy of their displacement separated them from each other, with my elderly aunt and her daughter (my cousin, Noor) and two grandchildren living in an NGO office building, and my other cousin, Hani (Noor’s brother), and his wife and four children living in a tent. Hani has colon cancer which has spread to his kidneys and he has been unable to access treatment since September 2023. The hospital where he was being treated, the Turkish Palestinian Friendship Hospital (specializing in cancer treatment), was deliberately destroyed (Video Link). He should’ve been getting treatment every two weeks and now his health is deteriorating — he unfortunately can’t walk a few meters to find a place to charge his phone. As you can imagine, his illness has made it even more difficult to navigate life in a tent, where there is little food, no potable water, no electricity, and no access to necessary medicine or care.

The ten people attempting to evacuate include my elderly aunt, Noor, Hani, Hani’s wife, and six children. Every day is a struggle for survival as they must scavenge for food and wood for cooking while simultaneously being surrounded by tanks and enduring constant bombardment. One of Hani’s daughters, also living in the tent, has heart complications that must also be under observation of a doctor as soon as possible.

As difficult as it is to ask for your support again, I have no other option as it has become necessary for them to evacuate to Egypt for safety, stability and urgent medical treatment. They have lost everything in this war and it is urgent that my cousin get to Egypt as soon as possible to resume his cancer treatment.

Unfortunately, the cost of escape and temporary shelter in Egypt is more than my family or I can afford, so I am relying on your generosity to help them find some peace and safety. Living expenses in Egypt have also risen and we are asking for support to make their transition to Egypt sustainable.

Your donation will get them to safety and give them a chance to live a dignified life. My family and I appreciate your empathy and compassion and I hope that I can transfer the funds as soon as possible as the situation in Rafah is continuing to worsen.

This is a cost breakdown of their needs and how the funds will be used. I will transfer the funds to my family in order for them to coordinate getting placed on the list of people eligible to evacuate to Egypt.

Rafah border crossing: 10 people * $5,000 = $50,000

Passport fees: 10 * $150 = $1,500

Rent a temporary home: 2 months * $1000 = $2,000

Living expenses: 2 months * $1,500 = $3,000

GoFundMe fees: $56,500 * 2.9% = $1,639

Total: $58,139

No one leaves their homeland unless it is critically necessary and we are devastated that it has come to this. I am incredibly inspired by the resilience and unwavering faith of all the people of Gaza and pray for their survival and continuing faith. Thank you for your empathy and generosity and for keeping my family in your prayers.

The Elhalaby Family