From Rubble to Resilience: Help Yasmeen's Family in Gaza

Hello everyone,

My name is Yasmeen AlKhaldi, a 27-year-old Palestinian working as both a translator and an investigator at the Gaza Center for Human Rights. I'm based in Gaza, a city currently under relentless attack. In this time of great need, I reach out to you, the generous hearts spanning the globe, for your unwavering support.

The deadly war has raged on for over 180 days, leaving behind a trail of destruction that knows no bounds. Homes, like ours, have been reduced to rubble under the relentless bombardment by Israeli forces.

Countless houses and facilities, once pillars of our community, now stand as mere shadows of their former selves, bearing the scars of this senseless violence. Over a million people, including my family and me, have been forced to flee to the south of Gaza, Rafah, seeking refuge from the indiscriminate attacks that threaten our very existence.

With nothing but a change of clothes and a handful of possessions, we embarked on a journey of uncertainty, clinging to the hope that our four-level house might remain standing amidst the chaos. However, two months ago, our worst fears were realized when we discovered that our home, too, had succumbed to the devastation, leveled to the ground by the merciless airstrikes.

The loss extended beyond our home. Our car, a lifeline in these troubled times, was also destroyed, along with my sister's house. We had parked it near her home, hoping it would remain safe, but the recent attack on Al-Shifa Hospital and its surroundings claimed both her house and our means of transportation. This loss is compounded by the fact that we had planned to sell the car after the war to sustain ourselves, a dream now shattered.

Amidst the chaos of war, another battle rages within our family. My father, a resilient man of 64 years, has been bravely fighting gastric cancer for the past two years. As the primary breadwinner, his illness has dealt a heavy blow to our family's stability. The toll of his sickness has rendered him unable to work as he once did, amplifying the strain on our household income. This unfortunate circumstance has not only impacted our standard of living but has also significantly burdened us financially, especially considering the expensive costs of his ongoing treatment.

Faced with these challenges, I felt a deep sense of responsibility to support my family's resilience and insist on remaining in Gaza. Thus, I have created this crowd funding campaign, believing that together, with your support, we can collect donations to provide us with something to start rebuilding our house instead of facing homelessness.

Our lovely home then:

Our home now:

Meet my family:

We're 6 in total. There is my father Zuhair, 64, and my mother Wafaa, 55, and the four of us - two daughters and two brothers.

My father, Zuhair AlKhaldi. He's not just a name, but a beacon of strength and determination in our family. A lawyer and legal consultant by profession, he dedicated countless days and nights to provide us with a better life. His hard work bore fruit in the form of a spacious and welcoming home, where our family could gather and find solace in each other's company.

However, fate had other plans for him. My father is not just a provider; he's also a fighter—a cancer fighter. Currently undergoing medical and chemotherapy treatment in Ramallah, he has been separated from us since the very onset of the war, and we haven't seen him since then. His medical referral may keep him there for up to a year until his treatment is completed. During this time, we cling to the hope that the war will cease, allowing him to return to Gaza and find a new roof under which our shattered family can gather once again.

Here is a copy of a medical report confirming my father's medical condition:

Despite the distance, my father remains the driving force behind this campaign. He refuses to leave Gaza, inspiring us and urging us not to give up hope. He insists on staying in Gaza, determined to restart from ground zero and rebuild our house together. His belief in the eventual end of the war fuels our hope, but he also recognizes the practicalities—we need financial support to turn our dreams into reality. He knows that rebuilding our house requires resources, especially given our radically changed financial situation after losing almost everything during the war.

Then, there is my eldest brother, Saed, a resilient soul of 31 years. Armed with a Master's degree in political science, he made the difficult decision to leave Gaza two years ago, seeking refuge from the dire circumstances, particularly rampant unemployment. His journey led him to Belgium, where he hoped to find better opportunities and a brighter future. His presence there gave us hope, as we believed he could potentially improve our financial situation and help us recover from the losses endured during this war. However, the harsh reality is that he hasn't been granted residence yet, a plight shared by many Palestinians in European countries. Consequently, finding a stable and well-paid job has proven to be a challenge given the prevailing circumstances. This setback leaves us without the financial support we had hoped for, at least for the time being.

Next, there is my brother Mohammed, 29. He is a devoted husband and father to two daughters, Sham, aged 2, and Sarah, aged 1. Their innocence and laughter once filled the halls of our family home, a sanctuary that now lies in ruins, shattered into rubble in the blink of an eye. Sadly, Sham and Sarah won't have the opportunity to live and grow in the house that embraced us all.

Following in our father's footsteps, Mohammed pursued a career in law. He worked alongside our father in their office, shouldering the responsibility of providing for our family, especially after our father's cancer diagnosis rendered him unable to work. However, the relentless onslaught of war spared nothing. The office, our primary source of income, along with countless other facilities and infrastructure, fell victim to the massive destruction that ravaged every corner of the city. This added to the plight of our family, compounding the hardships we have endured since the monstrous war began.

Lastly, there is my youngest sister Malak, 20 years old. Being a doctor has always been her biggest dream, holding profound significance as she sees it as a beacon of hope for others. Despite facing numerous challenges, she tirelessly pursued her dream, studying day and night to become a medical student. Her perseverance paid off when she finally gained admission to Al-Azhar University. With excellent grades, she felt she was getting closer to realizing her dream of becoming a great doctor. However, everything changed when this war began. The war turned her life upside down, especially as the educational sector was profoundly affected. Many universities and schools were destroyed and bombed, including her own university, which suffered partial destruction. Additionally, the primary hospital in Gaza, Al-Shifa Hospital, was targeted. These incidents were particularly shocking and heartbreaking for her because they meant that she couldn't continue her studies in Gaza. Now, she faces the daunting prospect of having to travel abroad to pursue her dream. However, traveling abroad has become expensive, costing $5,000 per person to make it to Egypt, which isn't possible given our current financial situation.

Why ask for €35?

I have set a fundraising goal of €35,000 for my campaign. These funds will be allocated towards several critical needs. Firstly, €25,000 will go towards rebuilding my family house, which was completely destroyed during the war. This amount will enable us to construct a one-level floor house, providing us with a safe and secure place to call home. Additionally, €5,000 will be allocated to meeting the immediate needs of my family, including providing food, healthcare and other essential supplies. Another €5,000 will be dedicated to supporting the educational pursuits of our siblings, ensuring that Malak can continue her medical studies and Mohammed can overcome the setbacks he faced due to the destruction of his workplace. Furthermore, we aim to cover the costs of medical treatment and ongoing care for my father.

With your generous support, we can begin to rebuild our lives and forge a path towards a brighter future. Your donations will not only provide us with the means to reconstruct our home and meet our immediate needs but also offer hope and resilience in the face of adversity. Together, we can overcome the obstacles before us and emerge stronger than ever. Please consider contributing to our campaign and standing in solidarity with us during this difficult time. Your kindness and generosity will make a tangible difference in our lives and inspire us to continue striving for a better tomorrow. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Yasmeen