Help Hadil's Family Evacuate Gaza

Dear friends and caring strangers,

I am Hadil Louz, a Palestinian refugee from Jabalya Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip. I am currently pursuing a PhD at the University of St Andrews and am an alumna of both London School of Economics and Political Science and Oxford Brookes.

This is an urgent appeal for assistance to facilitate the temporary relocation of my family from Gaza amidst the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe. At nine months pregnant, I am deeply concerned for their well-being as they struggle for survival in Gaza. I am reaching out for your kind donations to support their travel to Egypt and eventually to the UK, ensuring their safety and survival.

I am reaching out for aid to reunite my family, enabling my parents to meet their soon-to-be grandchild safely. I understand that during the festive period, many in the community may be limited in their ability to donate substantially. Nevertheless, every donation, regardless of size, will be met with endless gratitude, contributing to a safer future for my family.

With my parents in Amman, Jordan, 2022.

The situation with my family

I only seek the means to save my family and contribute to a secure, hopeful future. As compassionate individuals who stay informed about global events, you are likely aware of the dire situation faced by every Gazan over the past months. While the following description should ideally be unnecessary, I feel compelled to underscore how urgently these funds are required for the basic survival of my family. I want to convey the immediacy and profound emotional distress we are presently enduring. We are grappling with profound pain, spanning generations, and the recent events in Gaza have not only shattered our lives but also left us in a state of profound despair.

Since October 7th, my family has experienced three evacuations. Our home neighbourhood of Jabalia Refugee Camp in the North has been partily destroyed, and our family business is gone. Initially evacuating to various relatives' homes in both the North and South, they faced further challenges when Israel claimed the South as a safe zone but later distributed leaflets, prompting them to evacuate again. Since then they have been forced to flee their homes and are terrified for their safety.

The family currently resides in a makeshift tent on a street in Deir-Al Balah, lacking access to sanitation, medical supplies, food, water, connectivity, and warmth.

The ongoing events are taking a toll on my own health, and I can't fathom the dramatic transformation my family's life has undergone. They once lived a dignified life, but now my thoughts are consumed by the image of them trapped in Gaza, taking shelter in a makeshift tent.

Having my parents and siblings with me would not only be a tremendous benefit to my well-being but would also assist me in caring for my daughter, ultimately allowing us to be a family together once again.

This photo captures a glimpse of their the dire situation of their current makeshift shelter beside a building on the street where they were forced to evacuate.

This photo displays our recently constructed apartment a month before the aggression began.

The recent devastating events since October 7th have not only forced my family to evacuate their warm and lovely home but have also shattered their dreams and aspirations.

My brother Nour, who had recently completed the construction of his new apartment, relying on the savings he diligently accumulated over five years, was on the verge of embarking on a new chapter in his life.

Hameed had secured a promising professional training opportunity at a company, offering hope for a stable future.

Mousa, my younger brother, was diligently preparing for his Secondary School exams, aspiring to study business administration.

My sister Marah exerted considerable effort during her undergraduate studies at Al Azhar University, which is now entirely obliterated, to graduate and pursue her dream of becoming a brilliant journalist.

Marah cradling my nephew in our home three months prior to the onset of the aggression.

My brother Najy, a father of two lovely children, graduated with a business degree from Al-Quds Open University. He had been working diligently to establish his own business from scratch since he was 22.

A week before the aggression, Najy and his young son Haroun were savoring their time at a cafe near Gaza's beach.

All these dreams, aspirations, and the potential for a better life have been mercilessly crushed.

My nephews and nieces, ranging in age from two to three years old, lack essential safety measures that are crucial for a child's well-being.

My nephews, Hadi and Haroun, Najy's children, Gaza, September 2023.

Additionally, my sister, Aseel, who is expecting a child, is grappling with challenges in securing medical supplies, food, clean water, and mental health support.

Currently, their survival in Gaza is under a very tangible threat, with the lack of food and shelter posing a severe risk to their lives.

Not only that, but also my father was diagnosed with Lymphoma in 2018. During the war, on 2nd December, after several attempts, he was finally moved to the UAE to undergo cancer treatment. Amid the ongoing aggression and invasion in Gaza, the UAE extended an offer to provide free medication and treatment for one thousand Palestinians from Gaza, including my father. On 26th November, the Israeli authorities had rejected the travel applications of some of the accompanying family members of some patients, including my mother who was to travel with him. This was extremely difficult because my mother has accompanied my father to every treatment appointment, assuming responsibility for all aspects of his care since he became ill. However, due to restrictions and circumstances, my father had to travel to the UAE alone, leaving him feeling exhausted and weary without the presence of my mother. Thus, having my mother at the moment outside Gaza is essential for his well-being.

Mother (Wafaa) and Father (Haroun), Amman, Jordan, 2022.

I described the agonising experience of being apart from them while the bombardment is going on in an article published back in October here:

https://metro.co.uk/2023/10/18/gaza-family-trapped-israel-hamas-war-19684041/

Updated Section on Budget Use

I have submitted a family reunification application to bring my family to the United Kingdom, aiming to provide them with temporary visit until the war concludes and allow them to rebuild their lives without enduring trauma and dire living conditions.

I am actively fundraising for their travel process, which, born out of an impossibly unjust situation, is an uncertain undertaking. As a student supported by a scholarship, I cannot afford to cover the expenses for my family's temporary relocation to Egypt, travel to the UK, or supporting rebuilding their destroyed home.

The funds will be allocated to cover their crossing fees from Gaza to Egypt, an expensive process, as well as their temporary stay in Egypt until they receive all of their official papers. This fund will cover 9 members of my family including two children. In order for my family to travel through the Egyptian Palestinian borders, they have to pay $5000 for each adult and 2500 for each child to receive a go ahead to pass.

Thank you so much for considering this cause to donate to. Words cannot express how much international solidarity has meant for all Palestinians.

I will keep you posted here on the site about any updates regarding their travel. Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers.

With deepest gratitude,

Hadil Louz