Help Mootasem's Family Survive in Gaza

Hello,

My name is Mootasem Ziara and I am 31 years old. My wife Nagham and I started a beautiful life together seven years ago. We had a wonderful home where we had our daughter, Celine, born in 2018, and our son Mohamoud, born in 2022.

I was working as a network technician and was able to become a network engineer manager. Our life was good.

In October of 2023 we fled our home after the army's sky press threatened death to all that stayed. Our home was bombed and completely destroyed.

We have been on foot and running for our lives ever since. We have been displaced several times over, from the North to the South, and now currently in a tent in Deir al-Balah.

Without income we have run out of funds and rely on donations to survive. There is nothing life sustaining left in Gaza. We see and hear the bombs and missiles and gunfire daily. It is terrifying. Every day we are unsure of survival.

I have a severe defect in my back from a bad fall, which has left my vertebrae compacted. I am hardly able to lift and carry things, yet I have carried my children and what's left of my life on my back for 11 long months.

My wife Nagham is now sick with a blood disease due to the conditions we live in. She goes through exhaustion, fevers and a sick stomach many days. My goal will be to cross the borders when they open up to start over and rebuild my life with my wife and children.

I reach out to you, those with heart and compassion, to ask: Will you help us? I will continue to do everything in my power to fight to keep my family alive, but I need your help.

Less aid is coming in and that’s driving the price of necessities extremely high. Winter is here. It’s a struggle to survive, not just the bitter cold and bombs, but against starvation. Since the borders are closed, we’re doing all we can to survive these times. Any donations we receive will help us buy the following items for the next six months:

• Food and water along with transportation to and from the market (chicken, meat or fish once a week) = $1,200 per month for the family = $7,250 in total

• Winter apparel, hats and blankets = $1,700

• Hygienics = $720

• Internet = $900

• Emergency transportation and medicine = $580 (I always make sure I have some fever medicine for the children. Fever is very dangerous for them and with the conditions they live in and winter, getting sick is common. That’s why I always want to have fever medicine in case, because you never know if it’ll stop being available.)

• Additional Fees: transfer fees to get the money in cash from merchants is usually 15% and Go Fund Me have a 4% fee = $2,115

We had to spend all the donations we’ve received so far, and we are so grateful for everyone who has donated! By factoring that in, the total comes up to around $18,000 required to survive the next six months.

To give you an idea of some of the prices in the area I’m displaced in:

• A bottle of shampoo = $18

• Feminine pads = $12

• 1 KG of meat = $40

• 1 KG of chicken = $24

• One Blanket = $90

• One Winter Jacket = $100

Every donation, no matter how small, will help me through this difficult journey. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for any support, whether it’s through a donation or by sharing my story. You can keep up to date on our lives by following my Instagram: @mootasem_family_gaza

*This fundraiser is run by Elisa McIntyre in the United States. 100% of the donations are sent directly to Mootasem Ziara.