Evacuate my family to safety from the war on Gaza.

Writing this has been one of the most challenging tasks I have ever undertaken in my life. Finding the right words to convey the unimaginable experiences my family and I have gone through is a daunting endeavor.

My name is Zahra Jouda, and I am a survivor of the ongoing war in Gaza. Fortunately, I managed to escape the conflict and find safety in Canada, but unfortunately, my family remains trapped in the Gaza strip.

My family consists of six members: my father, Fekri (52), my mother, Nedaa (52), my sister, Zaina (22), my sister, Bushra (19), my brother, Abdelghani (Abood) (15), and my grandmother, Zahra (78). We lost our home to bombing and were forced to evacuate multiple times, moving from the north to the south of Gaza.

As someone who has witnessed a portion of this war, I've lost the ability to adequately describe it or express my emotions. The magnitude of the situation defies words or emotions.

Leaving our house, fully aware that we might never see it again, is an indescribably heart-wrenching experience that became our reality. We sought refuge in Al Nusairat camp at a family member's house, but even there, we faced evacuation warnings multiple times, putting our lives at risk. Currently, my family had to evacuate to Rafah, where they lack relatives or friends to provide shelter. Moreover, finding available and affordable rental apartments is nearly impossible due to the mass displacement, soaring prices, and our limited funds.

Now, it is a matter of life or death for my family. They have lost everything, and the only thing for them to hold on to is their lives. Despite exhausting all conceivable options, the sole remaining glimmer of hope lies in leaving the Gaza strip through the Rafah border, primarily controlled by the Egyptian government. To escape this war, each family member must pay $10000 in order to be added to the departure lists at the Rafah crossing border. The funds will be sent to my family by me to support their travel expenses from Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah crossing. Additionally, the funds will be utilized to cover their accommodation and basic needs for an estimated duration of 6 months.

This fundraiser is the last resort for me to help my family flee the war and be reunited with them. The evolving situation leaves me uncertain about the possibility of ever seeing them, hugging them, and hearing their voices again.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and support my family.

Zahra