My name is Haifa Mhanna, and I come to you not just as a fundraiser, but as a mother pleading for the safety and well-being of her children. Our story, our journey, is one of both heartbreak and unwavering hope.
In the north of Gaza, Lana and her sisters knew a life filled with simple joys and boundless dreams. But that life was shattered, quite literally, when our home was destroyed in the war that has consumed our homeland. We were forced to flee, seeking refuge in the south, where the echoes of bombings serve as a constant reminder of the fragility of our existence.
The daughters lost the father’s care because he is now receiving treatment in the Republic of Egypt after sustaining severe injuries in the second displacement after the bombing of a place adjacent to the place of our displacement, and he had to be transferred to complete his treatment abroad. The distance between the father and his daughters due to the war and after he was injured and left for treatment is a very painful situation. The separation from his children due to coercive circumstances and the war on Gaza will have profound psychological, emotional and material effects on the children and the father, as there is no source of income to support my children in Gaza and also to support my injured husband in the Republic of Egypt.
As a mother, it pains me to see the fear etched into the faces of my daughters, to feel their trembling hands as they cling to me in the darkness of night. The trauma they endure is not just physical, but psychological, a burden no child should ever have to bear. Yet, despite the horrors they've witnessed, their spirits remain unbroken, their dreams of a better future burning bright.
I ask you, as a mother, as a fellow human being, to open your hearts and lend us your support. Together, we can rewrite the narrative of my daughters' lives, replacing fear and uncertainty with hope and opportunity. Together, we can ensure that Lana and her sisters have a chance to thrive, to chase their dreams without fear of persecution or violence.
From the depths of my heart, I thank you for your kindness, for your generosity, and for standing with us in our time of need. May your compassion light the path to a brighter future for my daughters and for all those who yearn for peace.
Sincerely,
Haifa Mhanna
Organizer
Mo Mhanna
Organizer
Coralville, IA