Help Mayyada's family escape Gaza’s horror

Hello. My name is Mayada Jihad, I’m a nursing student from the north of Gaza. I’m supposed to graduate this year.

In the war’s early days, our house was bombed. We survived but lost our home and all our belongings. We had to evacuate to a medical facility — Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifaa. I volunteered with the medical staff there to provide wounded civilians with life-saving emergency care. A few weeks passed as the relentless Israeli shelling of our communities continued.

A siege targeting the Al-Shifaa medical complex left us without water, food, or any sort of provisions for several days. During that time, we were unable to connect via telecommunications or otherwise communicate with anyone in our community or outside. Israeli soldiers then told us we had to evacuate to the south.

We have had to evacuate 4 additional times since then.

At present, we live in a tent in Rafah, me. My parents Jehad and Sobhia, my husband Mahmoud, our Daughter Maria and my brother Mohamed Ayyad and the situation is dire. We have shortages in all basic life necessities (clean water, food, and medical supplies).

People here are wounded, too. In Rafah I still help out as a first responder when I’m able, but I also have to focus on my parents, as they are elderly and live with several chronic medical conditions that are exacerbated by the circumstances and require immediate assistance beyond what is possible in the camp.

For instance, before the intensification of Israel's aggression against Palestinians in Gaza six months ago, my mother was scheduled for eye surgery. She was not able to access the treatment. She is now losing her sight. Facing the poor living conditions in the camp, my mom has also developed a pulmonary edema. As for my dad, in addition to high blood pressure, he suffers from hypoxemic respiratory failure, a condition which is liable to require medical intervention. Like the other life necessities, this is not available at the moment, because none of the facilities which receive such cases in Gaza remain functional.

The children in my family also require my attention and care as they are confronted with life-altering fear, persistent anxiety, and other health consequences of the deteriorating and hazardous living conditions.

This is where you come in. I created this GoFundMe campaign so I can move my family to a safe place to recover and receive medical attention. Also rebuild our life Also, although all schools in Gaza have been destroyed, I still intend to return to my studies and obtain my degree.