Hala + family cost of living and medical care in Cairo & Gaza

“I believe in the children, and the wounded.” ~ Hala Hamza

Rafeef, who is still in Gaza.

Zaki, Hala, Jannah and Rafeeq.

Hello, my name is Rosie Seymour. I’m a collective care worker from Wales hosting this fundraiser for my dear friend Hala Hamza, and her family who I have known now for almost two years. Hala and her husband Zaki lived a beautiful life in Gaza. Zaki ran a chain of successful shops, and Hala was a respected lawyer. Their lovely home and businesses were destroyed by the occupation leaving them with nothing - starting completely from scratch, in a new country, in traumatic circumstances.

Hala and Zaki’s home before, and after.

Hala and her husband Zaki were in Cairo receiving medical care for a high risk pregnancy when the genocide began in Gaza. They are still separated from many family members including Zaki’s daughter Rafeef, and Hala’s mother and brothers, to name a few.

Rafeef in Gaza.

After seven gruelling months Hala and Zaki’s children Mahmoud and Jannah were evacuated, as was Zaki’s son Rafeeq who survived an air strike, the two week hospital siege in Al Shifa where he and his sister Rafeef were separated, and endured extremely harsh circumstances including torture and starvation.

Content warning: The following pictures contain graphic images of both Rafeeq and Rafeef’s injuries.

Rafeeq still needs extensive surgery for the injuries he endured during the air strike and siege, as does Rafeef who is still in Gaza. Rafeef was scheduled to be medically evacuated the day the Rafah border was closed.

Zaki, Hala and Rafeeq reunited following his evacuation.

Nearly two years later the violence shows no sign of abating, so the focus now is on helping Hala and her family establish a new life in Cairo whilst they are supporting, and remaining a lifeline for their family remaining in Gaza.

Hala is responsible for the day to day care of 11 people, who deserve as much support as possible to settle and thrive in their newfound circumstances. It’s also crucial to aid them in supporting their family who are still in so much danger, and with astronomically priced, scarely available food among other necessities such as clothing, shelter and medicine.

Rafeef and Rafeeq both need surgery. Rafeef needs several operations, including a cosmetic operation on the amputated area of her lower foot. She also needs work to correct curvature in her knee.

Rafeeq needs surgeries on his shoulder, and on his un-amputated foot. Up until now, no surgeries have been performed on him because the problem that might require a colostomy has not been detected.

He will now return to Egypt because he is not treatable in Uzbekistan. Hala and family will search for private doctors and hospitals to find out what the problem is in his colon, and suffering caused by the colostomy.

He also needs surgeries for his dislocated shoulder and his un-amputated foot, due to a problem with the nerves.

From Hala: “We are now in dire need of Go Fund Me to collect donations. The situation has become more tragic and the responsibilities have grown and I am confused. I do not know what the future holds for us. The situation has become suspicious and frightening, so I must believe in the future with everything. And I believe in children and the wounded.”

Thank you so, so, much for standing with us!

Solidarity Not Charity