<div>Dear All,
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<div>I am a 40-year-old Palestinian-Portuguese originally from the Gaza Strip. I came to Portugal in December 2015 to pursue a PhD in Clinical Optometry and Vision Sciences, with the hope of returning to Gaza to serve my people, who are in dire need of vision care. However, due to the ongoing instability in Gaza, I have continued to live in Portugal, where I have found a new home in this beautiful country among its kind people. I am married and have two children—a three-year-old daughter and 1 year-old son.
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<div>I completed my PhD in October 2023, but shortly after, war broke out in Gaza, where my parents, eight sisters, and four brothers live. The brutal conflict has devastated our family; we have lost most of our homes and apartments, leaving my entire family homeless. Tragically, my oldest sister and her husband were killed and more than 45 of my siblings and relatives have been killed by Israeli forces, more than 5 persons are detained and many others have been injured.
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<div>Fortunately, with the help of the Portuguese authorities, I was able to arrange for the evacuation of my parents from Gaza.
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<div>It was an emotional moment to reunite with them after nearly 10 years. While I was overjoyed to see them, my happiness was tempered by the deep sadness I felt knowing the dire situation my sisters and brothers continue to face in Gaza. The war has taken a toll on my parents’ health, with my father now disabled as a result of the conflict.
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<div>Living in Portugal has presented its own challenges. The high cost of living, especially rent, has been overwhelming. I currently pay €850 monthly for rent in Braga while I am not working currently due to difficulties finding jobs. The financial burden has become unbearable, particularly with my parents now requiring specialized care due to their disabilities. Both of my parents have started losing their vision, and the long wait times at the public hospital in Braga have only worsened their condition. In desperation, I stopped paying other bills to cover the cost of their treatment at Trofa Hospital, but I am still unable to afford the necessary care. They urgently need eye surgery, and my father is also battling Parkinson's disease, hypertension, and the effects of a recent stroke.
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<div>I am urgently seeking support to cover <strong>rent and medical expenses</strong>, and I am actively <strong>looking for a job in my field of study.</strong>
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<div>Thank you sincerely for any assistance, no matter how small.
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<div>PT ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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<div>Sou um cidadão Palestiniano-Português de 40 anos, natural da Faixa de Gaza. Vim para Portugal em Dezembro de 2015 para realizar um doutoramento em Optometria Clínica e Ciências da Visão, com a esperança de regressar a Gaza para servir o meu povo, que necessita urgentemente de cuidados na área da visão. No entanto, devido à instabilidade constante em Gaza, continuei a viver em Portugal, onde encontrei um novo lar neste belo país, entre pessoas generosas. Sou casado e tenho dois filhos — uma filha de três anos e um filho de um ano.
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<div>Concluí o meu doutoramento em Outubro de 2023, mas pouco tempo depois rebentou a guerra em Gaza, onde vivem os meus pais, oito irmãs e quatro irmãos. O conflito brutal devastou a nossa família; perdemos a maioria das nossas casas e apartamentos, deixando toda a minha família sem abrigo. Tragicamente, a minha irmã mais velha e o seu marido foram mortos, e mais de 45 dos meus irmãos e outros familiares foram assassinados pelas forças israelitas. Mais de cinco estão detidos e muitos outros ficaram feridos
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<div>Felizmente, com a ajuda das autoridades portuguesas, consegui organizar a evacuação dos meus pais de Gaza.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/82046297_1723471335545892_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
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<div>Foi um momento extremamente emotivo reencontrar-me com eles após quase 10 anos. Embora tenha ficado muito feliz por revê-los, essa alegria foi ofuscada pela tristeza profunda que sinto ao saber da situação desesperante que as minhas irmãs e irmãos continuam a enfrentar em Gaza. A guerra teve um impacto grave na saúde dos meus pais — o meu pai ficou com uma incapacidade física como resultado do conflito.
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<div>Viver em Portugal também tem os seus desafios. O elevado custo de vida, especialmente das rendas, tem sido esmagador. Atualmente pago 850€ por mês de renda em Braga, enquanto estou desempregado devido à dificuldade em encontrar trabalho. O peso financeiro tornou-se insuportável, especialmente agora que os meus pais necessitam de cuidados especializados devido às suas condições de saúde. Ambos começaram a perder a visão, e os longos tempos de espera no hospital público em Braga agravaram ainda mais a situação. Desesperado, deixei de pagar outras contas para poder pagar tratamentos no Hospital de Trofa, mas continuo sem conseguir suportar os cuidados de que necessitam. Precisam urgentemente de cirurgia ocular, e o meu pai sofre ainda de doença de Parkinson, hipertensão e dos efeitos de um AVC recente.
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<div>Estou a procurar com urgência apoio para <strong>cobrir despesas com a renda e cuidados médicos</strong>, e estou ativamente à <strong>procura de emprego na minha área de formação</strong>.
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<div>Agradeço sinceramente qualquer tipo de ajuda, por mais pequena que seja.
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Clara Ribeiro

Rosie Marteau

Nesreen almuhtaseb

Anonymous

Ricardo João Cruz Correia

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bernardo gama

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