Greetings, dear friends, I am Husam Rafiq, a Palestinian facing an urgent situation. I am reaching out to seek your support in evacuating my family from Gaza to Egypt.

The decision to create this page was not made lightly. I find myself in a desperate situation with no viable options left to ensure the safety of my family in Gaza. My two sisters, brother-in-law, and 5 young nieces and nephews are trapped in Gaza. One of my sisters is a single mother of two children (ages 10 and 5), and my other sister has three young children (ages 9, 7, and 4). Unfortunately, they have lost everything, including their homes, due to the devastating impact of war. My family has been repeatedly displaced, moving from one place to another, and they currently find themselves in Rafah with only a makeshift tent as shelter, enduring the challenges of winter weather and rain.

The destruction of their family homes has left them grappling with severe challenges—scarce food, lack of clean water, inadequate public facilities, and the outbreak of diseases in our community. The experience of this war has been traumatizing, stripping away all aspects of normalcy and humanity. Instead of the joy of life, they witness phosphorus bombs and live in constant fear of bombings.

Gaza is in a state of crisis, with dwindling supplies and a population living in constant fear. The nights are no longer peaceful, and the once vibrant city is now filled with tears and pain. Families have been torn apart, and the toll on innocent lives is heartbreaking.

We have personally witnessed the atrocities of this war, from grieving Palestinian mothers to widowed wives, orphaned children, and patients who have lost everything. We have lost numerous family members, friends, and colleagues to this violence, including 50 relatives who were killed in a single airstrike. The bombings and airstrikes have left the northern region in ruins, and life in Gaza has become a painful routine.

My elderly parents were evacuated to Egypt in December and have been devastated to be separated from their daughters and grandchildren trapped in Gaza. Before their homes were destroyed, they all lived together in one building in Gaza and spent everyday together. My mother has breast cancer, but the only cancer hospital in Gaza was also destroyed. My mother desperately needs to come to the U.S. for cancer treatment but she refuses to leave her daughters and grandchildren behind in Gaza. However, the U.S. government has repeatedly refused to help my sisters and their children evacuate Gaza.

Despite the uncertainty of their survival, I am determined to give my family a chance at safety. We have lost everything and have no funds, but my sole goal is to evacuate my family to a secure country. The current permit fees to cross Rafah have surged to $9,000 - $14,000 per person, and there are three adults and five children in my family. Additionally, there is an immediate relief fund of $5,000 and approximately $3,000 to cover GOFUNDME transaction fees.

As we write this, the sound of bombings echoes around them. We appeal to your generosity and support to help me evacuate my family to Egypt. My deepest hope is to provide a better life for my sisters and their children, one filled with peace, much like the lives we all aspire to lead. Your donations can make a significant impact in freeing them from the devastating circumstances they currently face..