Hi, my name is Ilse Ackerman, and I'm asking for your support and solidarity for Omar Taleb and his family. Their home in Al-Tawam, northern Gaza was bombed at the end of 2023, and they were displaced, the first of many displacements. Support goes toward the high cost of living (rent, food, and medicine), as well as toward tuition as they continue their online studies where possible. We have been in touch over video calls, and I can vouch for their location and circumstances in Gaza.

Omar was in his third year of pharmacy school when his university (and studies) were annihilated. More in his own words below:

"Hello everyone, I am Omar Taleb, 21 years, a student at the Al-Azhar University. I'm reaching out to you because things here are really tough due to the ongoing crisis. I used to work in different pharmacies as a trainee, but now my family and I are facing serious challenges. In this barbaric war, I lost my university and my project.

Unfortunately, I lost my house, which was completely burned by the occupation. My house was targeted completely, and we are now homeless. Without the minimum necessities of normal human life, we were temporarily forced to move by military force from our house to a safe area. When the danger intensified, we were displaced again and again, trying to escape with our lives. For your information, there is no safe area in the entire Gaza Strip.

Unfortunately, we lost our dreams, our homes, our future, some of our relatives, and many of our friends. We have lost our strength and resilience. Our psyche has been shattered and our bodies are exhausted and unable to live in these conditions.

Thank you all."

What was their home:

Thank you for your help with their survival. I know they would do the same if the situation were reversed.

Note that unless you ask me not to, I will make your donation private after you donate. Omar asked me to protect your name from people who may try to use it to solicit.