Help Mohammed Al Najjar's Family Survive Gaza War

My name is Nina Christine Gorman (D.O.B. 11-18-57), a psychotherapist and psychology teacher from Philadelphia PA., USA, a woman of peace who is not affiliated with any organizations. I am doing this campaign for my nice friend Mohammed Ahmed Hamad Al Najjar (5-30-1986) from Khan Yunis, Gaza and his wife Nadia Mahmoud Al Najjar (3-26-89) and their four children Sama (13), Siraj (11), Saif (6), and Laith (4) so they can survive the war in Gaza to prevent hunger and malnutrition as well as get items to survive the winter and so that Nadia can get sufficient medications for her lymph cancer and children medications for illnesses.

I came to know Mohammed in meta-Facebook especially in messenger about six months ago when we were talking about social and political issues and the suffering of those in the war and his family. I was saddened to hear about his wife, Nadia’s lymph cancer and the loss of his job for a contract printing company and inspired by his reputation for helping his friends and neighbors. An independent proud man who has never asked for help from others like many in Gaza has had to suffer unemployment and lack of resources with war and the persistent blockade of items that has lasted 18 years now but got worse with the war. His sense of humor and cheerful spirit has inspired me and many of his friends in and out of Gaza to endure the struggle to survive hardship and illness.

Although some aid is now entering the strip, there are delays in distribution and many needed items are not available like vegetables which have to be purchased to avoid malnutrition, as well as sufficient blankets, winter clothes, shoes, items for tent repair and heaters for tent during the winter. When it rains, the covers of the tents tear. The children still cry from trauma they experience from the war sometimes with guns still firing due to living close to the border areas where soldiers and tanks are still present. I get worried about Nadia that her cancer will get worse especially if she cannot afford the treatments she needs including for pain (with treatment scarce or not available for radiation or chemo) or that the children will get rashes or get sick again especially if they do not get vegetables. The family has registered for some of the new aid but like many in Gaza have not received it yet.

They like many there despite their strong spirit to survive and help each other are very tired and fear for the future, if they will have a house again (as nearly all the homes are destroyed by bombs), if they will have a life free of fear of war, if they will have just basic needs of comfort and for the children to go to school again or be able to go to hospital since all the schools are destroyed and most of the hospitals also bombed with few functioning. Please donate what you can to help the family survive and have hopes of some security and some dreams for the future. No donation too small. All donations will be transferred from my secure USA bank account to secure Paypal of Mohammed Ahmed Hamad Al Najjar (though fees for withdraw in Gaza range from 25 to 30 percent with these high rates charged by exchange office merchants). I will cover campaign fees.

Here is Mohammed in his own words:

My name is Mohammed Al Najjar (D.O.B. 5-30-86) from the city of Khuza’a, Khan Yunis, Gaza. I am a man of peace and connected with no organizations. Before the war I had my diploma in interior design and work that was steady enough in plastic card printing to support my wife Nadia and our children, Sama, Siraj, Saif and Laith. We always shared what we had with our friends and neighbors and I often volunteered to help farmers with their work to provide for the poor. Life was not easy then with high prices and fears of new wars that would come every couple years. Our children have never gotten used to bombings in these wars and would cry at night and hold each other when the explosions came but at least I was able to keep them out of hunger. At least we could live in a house, go to doctor, dentist or hospital if needed and water came from the tap. Now all that has changed. I am known for my sense of humor and optimism. I used to laugh more and look on the bright side but now it is much harder to keep a smile and lift the spirit of my family, friends and neighbors. Now my children are very shaky and traumatized with bombs that did not stop for over a year. I am very tired physically and emotionally and so is Nadia. The war has drained me and I am not the same person I was.

The bombs have stopped now with the ceasefire, but we do not know how long that will last. We still hear gunfire and know the tanks and soldiers can still come at any moment with their quadcopters in the sky that can shoot at anyone at any time. I cannot afford pain or other medications for Nadia and I fear the children and I will lose her. I cannot afford vegetables that are still at high prices or medicine when the children get rashes or get sick. Chicken, eggs and meat or dairy of any kind is scarce and when can find too expensive to afford. I cannot afford to get Nadia or the children jackets, winter clothes, or enough blankets and we cannot afford a heater for the tent or nylon or wood to repair it when it breaks in the wind and rain. Many others want to evacuate since Gaza is destroyed and has become uninhabitable.

It is still hard to find water with having to travel distances to carry it, hurting the back and waiting in long lines and much of it is filled with salt that makes us sick. We do not want to leave our land even if it means staying in tent on the rubble of our bombed home. Now we just hope to survive. I hope you can help make that a reality for us so that we can live, thrive and some day have a decent normal life. We urge you to donate what you can so that we can be secure and happy again. May God Bless you with health, laughter and happiness. Never lose hope or the capacity to have joy in your heart when suffering and injustice enter your life. We will never forget your generosity to us during this brutal war. We will never forget.

Here is the budget for the campaign:

BUDGET

Food to survive for family of six for three months ($720 per month)

Including lentils, hava beans, flour, vegetables including eggplant, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, fruit including apples, bananas, biscuits, greens, cooking oil, sugar, tea

$2160

Medications for pain (ibruprophen, tramadol) for Nadia

For three months (120 + 300) $420

Oncologist doctor consults for Nadia for three months $240

Transportation to doctor and hospital for three months $180

Ointments for rashes and antibiotics for illness for family $210

Tarp for tent to prevent cold, rain and breakage $240

Wood and fabric to repair and insulate tent $120

Heater for tent $180

Battery for heater and charging $250

Floor mat to prevent cold from floor $150

Brush insulation for under mattresses x 6 (35 each) $210

Blankets for warmth (35 each) $210

Gas tube to cook $150

Cleaners, soap and shampoo (70 each month) $210

Solar panel for some electrical access $250

Winter jackets for six $240

Pajamas and underwear for six $260

Pants for six $240

Shirts for six $ 300

Shoes for six $240

Toys or games for the children $160

Fees for PayPal withdraw at 25% $1,655

TOTAL $8,275

All funds will be transferred from my secure USA bank account to secure PayPal of

MOHAMMED AHMED HAMAD AL NAJJAR