Help Aya and Her Sons Survive and Rebuild

Hello compassionate souls,

My name is Aya. I am a 25 year old widow and mother of two precious sons, Kenan and Ahmed, ages 4 and 1. They are my world and I will do anything to help them survive and rebuild our lives. Please take a moment to read our story and consider supporting. Your contribution has a tangible impact on the health and survival of our family.

My sons and I currently have no shelter of our own. We had our own tent before, but after 5 or 6 displacements in just the last month (10-15total), it was left behind and destroyed. With the war continuing for almost a year now, it is hard to remember exactly how many times we have had to leave. Now, we rotate between family members' tents, but it is crowded, exhausting, and the transportation is expensive. At any moment, we may be displaced again—exposed to the elements and lacking privacy. nowhere we go truly feels like ours and no place feels safe.

The trauma of constant displacement, starvation, thirst, lack of medical care, unsanitary conditions, and threat of military assault leaves us in a state of constant panic, fear, and exhaustion. My son Kenan is losing his hair from the stress. My son Ahmed is a baby — still in diapers — only ever having known the horrors of war in his short life.

We live surrounded by the trash and sewage buildup, with insects swarming at all hours of the day. We don’t know if we will be the next to contract Polio Virus or the next to be hit by a military assault. I’m trying my hardest to fight for mine and my sons’ future.

More about me:

I am a university graduate of medical laboratory science, and a lifelong student of science in general. I was proud to earn a 94.4 average in high school. I aspire to take English courses and then obtain my Master’s degree in either a medical discipline or technology. I once had a beautiful life, full of love and joy. I had dreams for a peaceful and blissful future.

Our great losses:

My beloved husband, the father of my sons, Ramadan, was martyred October 19 as he was out getting breakfast for us. He was a devoted and affectionate husband, a present and loving father, a brilliant recent law graduate (top of his class), and had memorized the Holy Quran. Words cannot truly express how much my sons and I miss him. He comforted me and spoiled me, and wanted to provide the world for my sons and me. When Ahmed turned 1 year old in late May, I grieved that Ramadan didn’t get to be with us to witness his first steps. I see him in our two beloved sons—they each grow more like him in appearance, personality, and mannerisms each day.

My two brothers, whom I cherished, became my rock after the death of my husband. Then, each of them was also martyred, both leaving behind wives and young children, including newborns. My world was shattered—the three men I most loved and relied upon were gone.

Our full displacement story:

We were originally displaced from our hometown in eastern Khan Younis, eventually reaching Rafah, but have since been displaced AGAIN countless times, due to the Rafah invasion (in May), the many forced evacuations of eastern Khan Younis (July-August), the Mawasi Massacre bombardment dangerously close to them (July 13th), and now--the recent siege of eastern Khan Younis. Each displacement costs us HUNDREDS of dollars and precious energy that we truly can't afford to expend. We have to choose between scraping together/borrowing huge costs for transportation OR walking far distances, carrying what little we have (leaving the tent behind). Displacement is a death march.

My sons and I ultimately need to evacuate Gaza when the Rafah Crossing reopens, but we are in desperate need of basic necessities to survive RIGHT NOW.

Breakdown of how your generous donations will be used:

SURVIVAL IN GAZA--

Food expenses (current prices- 1 kilo of meat: $75, 1 parcel of vegetables: $50)

Water

Internet ($40 per month per month per phone, $20 to charge phone per month)

Goods expenses (clothing, toiletries, cleaning supplies, cookware supplies)

Medicines

EVACUATION AND POST-EVACUATION--

New passports (destroyed when our house was bombarded; ordered through Ramallah, West Bank, at a cost of $200/person)

Registration fee for evacuation, had been about $5k per person (but subject to change), collected by Ya Hala travel agency

Administrative fees for Ya Hala (about $1500)

Shelter expenses (hotel, then rent in Egypt)

Basic living expenses (food, clothing, toiletries, internet)

Treatment (psychological, medical)

Travel expenses (taxis, visas, plane tickets)

Transfer and processing fees for this platform (2.9% + $0.30 per donation) and other platforms (like Western Union)

NOTE: Because the situation on the ground is constantly changing, we hope everyone can understand that my family will need to use funds for whatever needs are most urgent.

How the funds will be securely transferred:

My friend Montana will receive these funds directly to her US-based bank account. She will then send them to me/my family via Western Union. When the time comes for evacuation, our relative will register my family at the Ya Hala travel agency in Cairo.

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions. We aim to be as transparent as possible.

My instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aya_jamie_99?igsh=MTlydmgyd2Y3cXhmcg==

________ instagram:

Please take a second and put yourself in our shoes. My family is enduring true horror--an absolute nightmare. Wouldn't you move heaven and earth to help your family? Please help ensure our survival. We have hopes and dreams for a better life.

Please share our story with your networks and on social media. Any amount helps--no donation is too small. If you are able, we greatly appreciate consistent donations: we need about $100 a week to eat. We hope people will connect with us on social media to help us publish the campaign.

Thank you