Help me and my family survive the war on Gaza

I am Engineer Ahmed, 28 years old, from the Gaza Strip, Gaza City. This is my story after October 7.

We lived a beautiful, peaceful life, with peace of mind, me and my family of six: my mother, father, brothers Yahya and Mohammed, and my sister Nada.

I was about to graduate from the Civil Engineering and Urban Planning Department. I was very ambitious, planning my career and getting married. I had fully furnished my apartment

, but unfortunately, it was completely destroyed. Even the furniture installments had not been paid, and only about a third of the apartment's price remained.

The ongoing conflict began on October 7, changing much of our lives and leaving me without a future or further education. We had lived a life filled with happiness, but with the outbreak of the conflict on October 7, we began to live in constant terror, sadness, and pain.

The sounds of explosions began everywhere and we suffered from despair and psychological discomfort as well. My house and my father's house in Gaza City became empty after we were forced to move towards the south of the Strip from its north.

We headed to Khan Younis city. At first, we rented a small apartment to accommodate my family and me. We stayed for about 60 days until the invasion of Khan Younis city began. Then we received the news that my home and my family’s home in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City had been destroyed.

The news was like a thunderbolt. We remained tense, not knowing what to do. On the one hand, I heard the screams of my mother and sister, and on the other hand, I heard the crying of my father and brothers.

However, we didn’t have time to grieve because we were forced to flee again to Rafah city, where we also owned a family home. We stayed there for about 4 months, during which we received other displaced people with us.

The place was like hell, as the house that was supposed to accommodate a family of 6 became a shelter for about 40 people! Can you imagine that! We suffered from unhealthy and scarce food and drink, but we were healing each other's wounds. Some of us lost our homes, some lost their fathers or sons. My father spent everything he owned to help others who were displaced.

We were like them and felt what they felt, but conscience and humanity required us to help them with whatever we could despite the pain, wounds and fear. But after four more months, we also quickly became displaced and homeless again, but in a more hideous and worse way.

The conflict began to move to the city of Rafah, so we were forced to move to the outskirts of Khan Yunis, and life became very difficult. We had never lived in tents before, and we were always in a collective flight from death, fear and the sounds of explosions. Even in the tents, life was difficult. There was no safety and no protection from the cold of winter. We were in shelters made of pieces of cloth. You can imagine. We were exposed several times to skin diseases. We struggled every day to secure water, standing in lines for hours. We prepared food with firewood, which was now sold for $2 per kilogram.

There was always a shortage of daily necessities, but amidst these tragedies, my brother Mohammed completed his graduation project, majoring in computer engineering and information technology, electronically.

It was a joy incomplete amidst the tents and displacement. Unfortunately, the city of Rafah was also destroyed, and our house there was completely destroyed. We now live in tents (strips of strips). We own nothing. We suffer from a lack of water and food, and even food and clothing, in addition to the diseases that afflict us, and the harsh winter and cold. So, I appeal to you in the name of humanity, addressing the living conscience within you. All we need is help to return to our normal lives. We need to rebuild the house that was destroyed by the war on Gaza, as well as buy some furniture, luggage, and university books.

So I've launched my fundraising campaign. No matter how small your donations are, they can grow and grow. I need to raise money to start a new life for my family and I. We are struggling to hold on to the hope of life. If you have compassion in your heart, and if you believe in the value of humanity, please consider donating to us. Your kindness could be the difference between despair and survival. Even if you can't donate, share the link and maybe it will make a difference.

"You are our last hope."