Hi, I'm Claudia and I'm helping my friend Ahmed raise money so he can find a safe shelter and a better future for his family.

Update Dec 15 2025

Despite everything, Maria is growing, she walks, she is starting to talk, and she has received her first vaccines, which she took like a hero without crying. Ahmed's father's health is not good, he is recovering from shingles. Unfortunately the ceasefire has not be a real ceasefire. It's still unsafe, there continue to be bombings and attacks, and there are no signs of aid entering the Gaza Strip.

Your support continues to make a big difference, helping the family buy what limited food is available, essential medication, milk for Maria and warm clothes for the winter.

Update July 26 2025

The situation in Gaza has been so bad that this fundraiser has become a lifeline. Everything raised so far has gone directly to Ahmed and has been used to cover essential living costs for his family such as food, medication, and wood for cooking.

For most of May and June, there was nothing he could buy due to the ongoing blockade stopping supplies from entering Gaza.

The Israel-US aid centres that are currently operating are extremely dangerous. Ahmed went twice and described it as a real-life squid game, where he and thousands of others had just 11 minutes to run, get the aid, and escape before gunfire began. Hundreds of people have died and thousands more have been injured simply trying to get food and essentials.

Additional supplies are only available through informal markets at extremely high prices. While costly, this is at least safer than the aid distribution centres. Right now, donations are truly lifesaving because they allow the family to buy food without risking the dangers of the aid lines.

Update May 2025

The situation is Gaza is extremely serious. No food, water or medical supplies have entered Gaza in almost 3 months and the bombing is relentless. For 3 days I had no news from Ahmed and I feared the worst. I finally heard from him on May 11th. Their refugee camp was bombed, half the victims were children. His family is still alive, although they are struggling. The price of food is extremely high. Please continue to support this fundraising and share it further with your friends and family. Every donation counts.

Ahmed's family

Ahmed (38), his wife Amal (30), their beautiful baby daughter Maria (1 year old), and his parents Daoud (83) and Saliha (70). They live in Gaza.

Their situation and hopes for the future

Ahmed's goal is to find a suitable shelter for living after losing his entire home in the northern Gaza Strip.

In the longer term, he hopes to be able to raise enough funds to travel to safer location and secure a better future and education for his daughter, and treatment, medications and a decent life for his elderly parents, who suffer from chronic diseases such as heart problems, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

In the short term, he needs funds to be able to cover basic living expenses,: food and drink for everyone, warm winter clothes, diapers, baby clothes and milk for Maria. The prices in Gaza are very expensive, beyond imagination.

Ahmed had a new beautiful apartment for his family (see photos), but it's now completely destroyed (see photos). They were forcibly displaced from their home by the Israeli army, who told them they had to leave immediately and allowed no time to take anything other than a few pieces of clothing.

Ahmed has also lost his job because of what's happening in Gaza. He has no source of income and wants to be able to start a new project to make a living, but this isn't possible until conditions improve.

They are now living in a camp in Nuseirat refugee camp, in very bad conditions. The roof doesn't protect properly from water, and it rains inside, there is no proper heating system for the winter.

Please give as much as you can to help a good man who lost everything he owned take care of his family as he would like to and would have been able to before the invasion and destruction of Gaza.

Information about how the funds will reach Ahmed

My name is Claudia Colvin, I'm an Italian living in Belgium. Ahmed is a friend of mine. Because he is in Gaza, it's not possible for him to start his own fundraising page so I'm helping him by setting it up, and managing the funds transfer. The money will go first in my bank account, and then I will transfer it to him and I will pay for the transfer fees myself so that 100% of the funds donated will go to Ahmed and his family. I will send everyone who donates a screenshot of the transfer to prove that the money has reached him.

Full names of the family members:

Ahmed Daoud Mohammed Al-Atrash, 38 years old

Wife: Amal Hassan Jasser Al-Assar, 30 years old

Daughter: Maria Ahmed Daoud Al-Atrash 10 months old

Father: Daoud Mohammed Qassem Al-Atrash, 83 years old.

Mother: Saliha Suleiman Ali Al-Shawaf, 70 years old.