Help Reunite My Displaced Family from Gaza

Help Reunite and Support My Displaced Family from Gaza

Please view this video or read on below: https://youtu.be/clVQVkaKWPc?feature=shared

‏Hello, we are Kayo and Margie, from California USA, and we have created this GoFundMe campaign to help the family of our friend, Samar Hesham Hashem AbuAlEes, to cross the border at Rafah and reunite with Samar.

Here’s Samar’s story in her own words:

I’m 25 years old, I am a Palestinian from Gaza, and I’m a dentist. Until recently, my family and I were living a calm, peaceful, and pleasant life, and my husband and I were eagerly anticipating the arrival of our first children -- triplets. However, our lives were turned upside down by the war in Gaza. The situation deteriorated rapidly, forcing us to flee our homes in the north to seek refuge in different parts of the south. I found myself in Rafah, while my family ended up an impossibly-distant 26 km (16 miles) away in the Nuseirat camp, with communication between us barely possible.

‏After 72 harrowing days, I had the opportunity to evacuate to Egypt with my husband’s family. Leaving my own family behind in Gaza, amidst the chaos of war, was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. My pregnancy made it a necessity, but my heart aches for my mother and my four brothers, who later had to move yet again, this time from Nuseirat Camp to Rafah.

‏My family had previously lived a decent life in the UAE before returning to Gaza after my father passed away in 2014. Never did we imagine we would face such adversity. Now, my mother and brothers are homeless, moving from place to place in search of safety, without a breadwinner, shelter, basic necessities, or a source of income. They are living in dire conditions, facing danger, hunger, disease, and a high cost of living.

‏Gaza has always been our home, with all its joys and challenges. But now, it's a matter of life and death. As of the end of March, 2024, 2 million people have fled their homes. Much of Gaza is now uninhabitable, with three-quarters of the homes damaged or destroyed. Only 30% of hospitals are still partially functioning, all schools are closed, and at least half of the roads are now unusable. Hundreds of residents of Gaza are killed daily, with current totals reaching more than 32,000 killed including 13,000 children, more than 71,000 wounded, and at least 10,000 missing.

My three younger siblings, Ibrahim, Abd El Rahman, and Yousef, have had their education and employment disrupted. My older brother Mohammad, who had been working as an attorney, has also lost his job.

‏To escape this horrific situation, Palestinians must pay up to $7,000 to secure a spot on the list to cross the border into Egypt. For the five members in my family, this crossing permission will require $35,000. Importantly, Hala company, which coordinates the crossing, requires that we prove we have the necessary funds before adding our family member’s names to the list at the border. Once they arrive in Cairo, we will help them rent an apartment and purchase basic necessities, since they left everything when they evacuated. To help with this, we hope to secure an additional $5,000.

‏We are seeking a total of $40,000 to help my family get to safety as soon as possible and reunite with us in Egypt. After that, we will consider how to start the long and uncertain task of rebuilding our lives. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a significant impact and provide us with the hope and strength we need to move forward. Any amount received over the campaign goal will be used to help others in the same situation.

‏Your support will not only help us recover from this tragedy but also offer a chance for a better future. Please consider donating, and if you are unable to provide financial support, please consider sharing this campaign link to amplify our reach. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

My family members names are:

Umaia Mohammed Yaqoub AbuAlEes, in Gaza - my mom

Mohammed Hesham Hashem AbuAlEes, in Gaza - my brother

Yousef Hesham Hashem AbuAlEes, in Gaza - my brother

Ibrahim Hesham Hashem AbuAlEes, in Gaza - my brother

Abd Al-Rahman Hesham Hashem AbuAlEes, in Gaza - my brother

Let me tell you about my family members:

First, let me introduce you to my mother, Omaya. Since 2014 when my father passed away, she has been both a mother and a father to us, and she’s also my best friend. She is a kind-hearted, encouraging person, tirelessly striving to provide her children with the best quality of life and education, ensuring we never feel the absence of our father.

My youngest brother, Abdel Rahman, should be in his senior year in high school now, but his education was halted by the war. He had aspirations of becoming a computer programmer, possessing a thoughtful and wise mind beyond his years.

Ibrahim, my favorite brother- people say he looks like me in everything. He is intelligent and exceptionally kind. My mother often says, “Ibrahim is my right hand.” He was in his first year of college studying physical therapy when his studies were interrupted by the war.

Yousef, my ambitious and humorous brother, pursued a degree in business administration and worked in marketing. He successfully garnered many clients, prompting him to create a team known as “Active Hub.” Tragically, he lost his office and most of his team members have become martyrs

Mohammed, my eldest brother, has also taken on the role of a father within our family. He is a compassionate and kind-hearted individual who worked as a lawyer and deeply loved his profession.

* “My right hand “ is Arabic expression of a person who is helpful and generous

The donations from this campaign will be collected by our friend, Kayo Wood (also a triplet mom), in California, USA. She will transfer them to my husband and me in Cairo, since GFM campaigns cannot be hosted in Egypt.