Please follow Hanady on Instagram. Get to know her. @hanady_asfour

My name is Arlene Alaniz, and I’m from Houston. I became acquainted with Hanady Asfour through my cousin, a disabled U.S. veteran from Maine who has been working with families in Gaza for almost a year. Hanady’s story has deeply moved me, and I’m sharing it here in hopes of bringing attention to the unimaginable pain and loss she has endured. Hanady has two cousins on Operation Olive Branch Master List, Dina (line 579) and Tamara (line 656).

Hanady’s story in her own words:

My name is Hanady, and I am sharing my story in the hope that your kindness can bring some relief to my family in Gaza. The war has torn my world apart. In just one attack, I lost 13 members of my family: my father, mother, my brother Shadi, his wife, and their child, my brother Ali, his wife, and their three children. My sister Nabila and her two boys were also victims. Nabila and her husband were thrown from the building in the bombing, and only Nabila and her two daughters survived. Since that day, Nabila has not spoken a word. The grief is overwhelming for all of us, but her silence is a daily reminder of the horrors we have lived through.

In addition to grieving these devastating losses, I am now the sole provider for my family. With no home, no healthcare, and no financial support, I am left to care for my five children, three of whom are mentally and physically disabled. Every day, I struggle to meet their most basic needs, walking long distances to fetch water and trying to secure food for us all. The war has left us without essential resources, and I am stretched to my limits, doing everything in my power to provide for my children and keep them alive.

Our situation is desperate. My children need medical care, but we have no access to doctors or hospitals. I cannot even afford to buy the medication they need to manage their conditions. Every day is a battle for survival, and the weight of it all feels unbearable at times.

I also have to support my sister Nabila, who, since losing her two boys and husband, has been unable to speak. On top of caring for my disabled children, I am also caring for her and her surviving daughters. Every task, from finding food to fetching water, falls on my shoulders. With every step I take to carry water back to our shelter, I am reminded of how fragile our lives have become.

Despite everything, I cannot give up. I carry the weight of my family's survival on my back, literally and figuratively, and I am asking for your help. Every donation could help ease our burden by providing the necessities we so desperately need—water, food, and medical care for my children.

All funds raised will be used to provide my family with essential supplies, including food, winter clothing, and other necessities to help us survive the harsh months ahead. We are in dire need of warm clothes and blankets, as we have no shelter or protection from the cold. Additionally, the funds will go toward purchasing medicine for my disabled children, who require ongoing care that I cannot afford. Your generosity will help ensure that we can meet our most basic needs during this incredibly difficult time.

Your support could make a life-changing difference for my family. I know the road ahead is long, but with your help, we may be able to find some relief in this unbearable situation.