Help Yousef and Family Survive Gaza's War

Hello, my name is Ayaki. I have set up this campaign on behalf of my friend Yousef (23) who is currently living in the middle of the Gaza war with his three siblings, his 2-year old niece, and his parents.

Yousef and his family are very gentle, kind people who remind me a lot of my own family. I have been in touch with them regularly (via messages and calls) over the past few months. I hope that you can take a few minutes to read their story.

Although the Rafah crossing is closed at this time, we remain hopeful that it will reopen. I have set up this campaign to raise the funds necessary for evacuation, as well as to support Yousef and his family with their day to day living costs until they are able to flee the war. All of the money raised in this campaign will be transferred directly to Yousef and his family.

Message from Yousef:

Hello, my name is Yousef Al-Zayyan. I am 23 years old and I am from Gaza. In this war, my family and I have lost our loved ones, our jobs, and our studies. I am asking you today for your support so that we can evacuate to safety and rebuild our lives.

During the past 9 months, we have seen and experienced things that we never imagined. I lost 7 of my close friends. My sister Esraa lost her best friend. We have spent many empty nights filled with sadness and despair, but we dream of moving forward with our lives, which stopped 10 months ago. We want to live in a safe place without bombing or fear.

Including myself, there are seven members in my family:

We each have our own careers and ambitions that we are passionate about achieving. I was studying Law in University. My father was a principal, and my mother was a teacher. My older brother Mohammed was pursuing a master’s degree in Infection Prevention Control, and only had a semester left before graduation. He is currently working as a Nurse Provider for Al-Aqsa hospital to provide medical services out of tents. My sister Esraa was a pharmacist. My younger brother Moath had just started university to study Programming. The war has disrupted our lives and filled our futures with uncertainty, but what propels us now is the hope that we may be able to start again.

Life in Gaza right now is very difficult. It is dangerous for us to go outside because of the bombing, but we have to walk for hours just to find food and water, or to complete simple tasks like charging our phones. My brother Mohammed came close to death when he was working and there were gunshots nearby that pierced his tent providing medical services.

Streets are difficult to walk on due to the destruction of infrastructure. Temperatures are very high, and there is no electricity or cold water since the start of the war. Municipalities have stopped working, so garbage has accumulated, and infectious diseases are spreading among people. We are forced to walk through sewage on the street, creating very unhygienic conditions. On top of that, prices for everything are very high, as no aid can enter Gaza, despite the fact that we have all been surviving for no months with no sources of income.

Your donations are a lifeline to us to overcome these circumstances and get to safety, where we can start our lives again. What keeps us moving forward is the hope that we will be able to return to peace and security soon. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, helps us with this mission of surviving this war and returning to our normal lives. If you could share this campaign with others, we would be truly grateful as that will help us reach our goal as soon as possible.

Thank you very much for your kindness and support.

Breakdown of Funds: