Evacuate My Family from Gaza for Medical Attention

Dear friends and kind strangers,

I urgently need your support to help me raise funds to evacuate my family out of Gaza. This is the only way to help them survive.

It breaks my heart that it has come to this, but this fundraiser is my last window of hope to secure the necessary funds to evacuate them. My father and my two brothers urgently require medical attention, and time is of the essence.

I am Eman Abu Hayya. I have survived four Israeli assaults on Gaza before leaving to pursue my studies in Philosophy in Doha, Qatar, back in 2017. While I reside in Qatar, my entire family remains in the Gaza Strip, trapped amidst the cruel and harrowing reality of ongoing genocide.

My aim is to facilitate the evacuation of my loved ones from Gaza to ensure they receive the critical medical care they urgently need and to shield them from the constant threat of Israeli bombings and the dire scarcity of clean water, food, and healthcare.

My family consists of 11 members: my mother Najat (49), my father Akram (60), three brothers Ahmed, Yahya and Zakaria (30, 27, and 22), one sister Shaima (24), two sisters-in-law Wafa and Hana (25 and 24), and three young nieces and nephews Najat, Hayat and Gaith (aged 1, 2, and 5). They deserve the chance to live full lives, and I cannot bear the thought of losing any of them.

My two little nieces’ names mean Life and Survival (Hayat and Najat), respectively. Let’s help make these two names a living reality through your kind donations.

Hayat and Najat while dancing together

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What happened to my family?

A Video Shows Our Destroyed House

Here’s a glimpse into the plight my family has endured since the recent Israeli aggression began after October 7. They resided in Khan Yunis city; their home and those of my married brothers have been destroyed, leaving them with nothing.

One of my brothers sustained injuries when his home was bombed and needs immediate medical attention due to a 10 cm bone loss in his right humerus, necessitating surgical intervention.

My second brother suffers from central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). He had a blood clot in his left eye causing him a very serious condition.

Having a blockage of a blood vessel happens in the central retinal vein is very serious condition and my brother requires prompt medical attention.

Currently there is no available medical attention for my brother condition in Gaza. While central retinal artery occlusion can lead to partial to permanent loss of eyesight in the affected eye, unfortunately this complication started to show in my brother condition while there is no any single medical treatment available for him inside Gaza. And if a blood clot breaks free and moves to the brain, it could cause him a stroke.

Meanwhile, my father grapples with diabetes and an urgent need for surgery on his left leg, afflicted with severe osteitis grade VI, rendering him immobile in his knee. Additionally, his left big toe had to be amputated, and he currently suffers from discharging pus, adding to his already complicated health concerns.

With the loss of their belongings under the rubble and the escalating danger in Khan Yunis, my family was forced to flee multiple times, seeking refuge in Rafah city among over a million displaced Gazans. Unfortunately, there is no safe haven in Gaza, with innocent lives continually at risk amid the relentless violence and destruction.

My Sister Mourns Her Best Friend Maria

My sister's close friend (Maria) was killed by an Israeli air bombarding while she was with her family in their house. She was killed, although she was just a young innocent civilian girl. Maria was a great loss for my sister as she sharing her with many dreams and ambitions as well as a small business they were running together.

Every passing moment endangers the lives of my family members, who, like all Gazans, face threats beyond the bombings, including inadequate shelter, contaminated food and water, and the rampant spread of diseases.

My five-year-old nephew and twenty-two- year-old cousin are now battling hepatitis amid the challenging circumstances.

My nephew is drawing with my daughter in my last visit to Gaza before Oct 7.

While aid may be dispatched to Gaza, countless supplies remain stranded at the Rafah border crossing, inaccessible to those in urgent need. Currently, the only viable exit route for my family is through the Rafah crossing under Egyptian control, where exorbitant exit visa fees further compound their plight.

The financial assistance I seek aims not only to facilitate their evacuation but also to sustain their basic needs for a few months, covering essentials like food, water, medications, and rent. Though uncertain about the costs of my father’s and brother’s surgeries, our immediate priority is securing their safe departure from Gaza.

My family’s fervent wish is to return to Gaza once the conflict subsides. However, for now, the imperative is to ensure my father and brother receive the vital medical care they require, while others focus on recuperating mentally and physically.

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How the collected funds will be spent:

With your generous donations, the collected funds will go to:

I will need to pay USD 47,500 (close to 72,678 AUD) to the only Egyptian travel company that has the appropriate security clearance, and is able, to coordinate travel between Gaza and Egypt, Hala Consulting & Tourism: The company charges USD5,000- 7000 (AUD7,650+) per adult and 2,500 (AUD3,825+) per child to cover the travel agency fees.

I will need to pay the platform’s fees (2.9% + $0.30 per each donation). This means that I will need to deduct an estimated 2000 USD of the entire donated amount.

I will also need to account for all transfer fees to deliver the money to Egypt and pay the full amount in cash. I estimate that this will cost another USD 1500

Once my family reaches Egypt the other amount of the financial support will be used to cover about few months of essential living expenses (food, water, medications, babies needs and of course rent). I estimate that this will cost 5000 USD.

In total, I will need about USD 56,000 (close to 85,684 AUD).

Your support is crucial in helping me raise the necessary funds to evacuate my family from Gaza, offering them a chance at survival amidst this ongoing genocide. Your contribution transcends mere financial aid; it signifies hope, resilience, and the affirmation of life itself.

Saving innocent lives from such atrocities is a noble cause worthy of pride. Please consider sharing this appeal with your network, and together, let’s take a stand for humanity.

Free Palestine. Ameen.

With profound gratitude,

Eman