Hello, I'm Shatha Alhajahmed, a 29-year-old Palestinian from Gaza. My siblings, Dina, Yara, Amer, and I can't forget the harrowing events of October 9, 2023, when the relentless bombardment rained down on our neighborhood for over five continuous hours. We never imagined surviving that night, only to be forced into the bitter journey of displacement, seeking refuge in the Southern Gaza Strip just days later.

I've lost countless opportunities, including my overseas clients, my sole income stream as a freelance SEO specialist. After a year of hard work, my team and I were ready to launch our freelance agency, only to have our dreams shattered, trapping us in the dire unemployment and economic crisis gripping Gaza.

About my siblings:

We're 4 siblings— two sisters, brother, and myself. My older sister, Dina (32), a talented back-end developer, lost her job as her workplace was destroyed during the ground invasion of Gaza City. My other sister, Yara (25), a general practitioner, returned from Egypt after completing six years of medical studies. Filled with hope and enthusiasm to reunite with her hometown and embrace its beauty, she looked forward to seizing the opportunities awaiting her. However, her aspirations were shattered when the war erupted, casting a shadow of anxiety and uncertainty over her mind, just four months away from officially becoming a general practitioner and setting her career path. My younger brother, Amer (14), robbed of his passion for football and denied the simple joys of youth, now spends his days trying to secure water and food.

We're currently relying on our savings, meant for investing in a family business project, but now diverted to meet our basic needs amidst skyrocketing prices. Hygiene products, once taken for granted, have become unaffordable luxuries.

For five months, we clung to hope for a permanent ceasefire, yearning to return home. But as the war enters its sixth month, hope has faded. That's why we're reaching out to you, asking for your support. Each day in Gaza brings the terrifying prospect of not surviving the next bombardment. The uncertainty and fear of the future have become overwhelming. Our only hope now is to seek safety outside of Gaza. However, we lack the means to do so. Our immediate goal is to reach Egypt through Rafah Crossing, where we can envision a new beginning and sleep without the constant fear of sudden danger, as we experienced on October 7, 2023. Once we're settled in Egypt, our focus will shift to finding job opportunities and obtaining educational scholarships to pave the way for a brighter future.

Funds raised will cover:

• Passage to Egypt: To secure an exit through the Rafah border, each adult has to pay $5,000 (3 people x $5,000 each = $15,000), for Hala Company to facilitate their exit to Egypt and $2,500 for children under the age of 16, totaling $17,500.

• Passport fees for 4 people ($150 per person): $600

• Renting, utilities, and living expenses in Egypt for 8 months ($1,500 per month): $12,000

• Medical care: $2,400

• Family travel registration in Egypt incurs $2,500 in fees for secure funds transfer, cash withdrawal, and delivery.

• Transaction fees: Gofundme charges 2.9% + $0.30 per donation. This adds around $2,000.

• Total funds needed in USD: $37,000

• Converting to Euros with today's exchange rate of 0.93 >> Total funds needed in Euros: $37,000 × 0.93 ≈ €34,410.

• Additionally, I included a 10% buffer to account for unexpected costs, raising the total to around €37,851.

The total funds needed are €37,851.

Kindly note that prices on-site are subject to frequent changes, and I may need to adjust the fundraiser goal accordingly. I've entrusted my friend Coralie in Belgium to organize this fundraiser on my behalf, as Palestine isn't supported by GoFundMe for direct transfers. Coralie is the close friend of Julie who visited me in Gaza in 2018 and who is currently hosting another fundraising campaign.

In this time of crisis, we humbly ask for your support to help us evacuate from Gaza. Your generosity can make a profound difference in ensuring the safety and well-being of us. Every donation, no matter the amount, brings us one step closer to safety.

Please consider donating and sharing our campaign with your network and social media platforms. Together, we can make a difference and bring hope to families like ours in need. Thank you for your kindness and compassion during this challenging time. I would love to get to know people and tell my story in more detail.

To get a glimpse of life in Gaza before the war and what it should always be, you can visit my sister Yara's Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yaroali?igsh=OGJ1aDNqb3U1a2I2

Warmest regards,

Shatha