Help Evacuate My Parents and Siblings from Gaza

Dear friends and kind strangers,

This is a desperate plea to help me evacuate my family who are now trapped in Gaza City to Egypt before it’s too late.

Once collected, the funds will contribute to:

My parents, siblings Mohammed, Ali and Khaled (whose wife and children you helped evacuate to Egypt a week ago), and my niece Maryam.

We had a home in Shejaiya, a neighborhood located east of Gaza City and usually the first target for land incursions. My family were forced to flee our home only 5 days after the start of Israel’s indiscriminate air bombing campaign that decimated most of Gaza City and northern provinces. My family lost everything, including the home my dad spent his life savings building for us after working hard for over 40 years.

My family initially sought shelter at al-Shifa Hospital for a month before Israel’s bombing of one of the hospital’s buildings ahead of its invasion. Since then, they have been moving around every other week from one besieged neighborhood to the other as they flee the terror of the Israeli tanks, killer drones and F-16s.

To say that they are beyond exhausted is an understatement; they have been rendered displaced from the very early beginnings of the assault on Gaza, fleeing for their lives every other week, desperately searching for a semblance or illusion of safety.

A few weeks ago, when they managed to send me photos, I could not believe how pale their faces looked: exhausted, tired, sick, and literally fighting day-to-day to survive, but I don’t know for how long they will be able to hold onto whatever glimpse of hope left for them to live on.

They are now besieged again as the Israeli army re-invaded al-Shifa hospital and surrounding neighborhoods. They have locked themselves inside a single room for 5 days now, they’ve run out of clean water, and are sustaining themselves on the little food they still have, all while unable to open a window or door out of fear for their lives. They have been lucky enough to survive until now, but I don’t know for how long.

This is why I am left with no choice but to seek your kindness in these dark times, hoping that your donations will help my family continue to survive and reach safety.

The funds will be distributed as follows:

1) Travel coordination fees:

I will need to pay USD57,500 (close to £45,700) to the only Egyptian travel company that has the appropriate security clearance, and is able, to coordinate travel between Gaza and Egypt, Hala Consulting & Tourism:

The company charges USD5,000 (around £4000) per adult and $2,500 (around £2000) per child to cover the travel agency fees.

My family members include:

I will travel to Cairo and pay the fees myself (fees have to be paid in cash by a relative).

2) Travel & living expenses:

Once my family reaches Egypt, they will need financial support to cover essential living expenses. This includes purchasing clothes, food, and other necessities, as well as covering the costs of general check-ups for all family members. This is especially critical for my grandmothers, one of whom, Huda, has been affected by several strokes, leaving her unable to speak or function properly. This will also cover visa/travel documents, and any other expenses while they can hopefully apply for a visa for a third country from Egypt. This estimated expense amounts to approximately £20,000.

3) GoFundMe site and transfer fees:

I will need to pay the platform’s fees (2.9% + $0.30 per each donation). This means that I will need to deduct an estimated £2,000 of the entire donated amount. I will also need to account for all transfer fees to deliver the money to Egypt and pay the full amount in cash in dollars. I estimate that this will cost another £1000.

In total, I will need about USD86,000 (close to £68,700) to get my family to a place of safety.

I would like to note that the decision to start this campaign has not been taken lightly. But now I am losing hope in the situation in Gaza not deteriorating any further, and I owe it to my family to help them seek a better life and a safe place away from the concentration camp that is Gaza.

My promise is: if the war is put to an end or evacuation becomes impossible or unpractical for any or some or all family members for any reason, all your funds will go to support my family to live a dignified life.

I hope you’ll be able to support me in this campaign, if not by donating, then by sharing with your family and friends.

With all my deepest gratitude,

Doaa