Help Mahmoud and Diana's family save their child, Ashraf

Hello,

I am Katariina Rahikainen, Finnish/Australian citizen living in Australia. I am doing this fundraiser on behalf of a beautiful Gazan family. Mother, Diana Qandil; father, Mahmoud Mushtaha, and an amazing 2-year old child Ashraf Mahmoud Mushtaha, who deserve everything beautiful life has to offer. Please give them some hope to survive and a chance to offer their child a future.

I know there are many fundraisers and we can't help everyone no matter how much we want. However like in the retelling of "The Star Thrower" or "the starfish story" in a novel from 1991, "[t]here are so many – how can [throwing one starfish back in the water] make any difference?" She replies, "It makes a difference to this one."

I hope this fundraiser makes a difference to that one family.

Thank you kindly <3

Some words from Diana:

Hello my friends❤

I am Diana, the mother. I live in Gaza, and like the rest of the population here, I am waiting for a glimmer of hope. I, like the rest of the mothers in the world, want to save my child and my family from the death that follows us every second here in Gaza. I want to tell you about my life and how it has changed because of the war.

My child, Ashraf, is a resident of the Gaza Strip. Before October 7, I was holding my little boy, Ashraf, and imagining what our future would be like. It took us 5 years until we were able to conceive him. However now, instead of enjoying motherhood, I am constantly terrified for him. Since October, we have been displaced several times from Nuseirat, then Rafah, then to Al-Zawaida. During the movement, little Ashraf has been exposed to many health problems due to pollution and lack of food. He suffers from intestinal diseases, in addition to eczema, which has plagued him since his childhood. He is a smart and innocent child who needs your help to survive.

Before October, I was thinking carefully how I would be able to divide my time between taking care of him and my work as a content writer for a Gaza company. My husband, Mahmoud, worked as a truck driver before the war. But then the war interrupted our plan, demolished our house, our car, and we lost our jobs. As so many others, I took refuge with my husband and child Ashraf in a tent that is not suitable for long-term human living.

We kindly appreciate any amount of support, big or small.

Mahmoud, Diana and Ashraf

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Something about the organiser:

I have been connected to human rights issues since my undergrad studies, when I did volunteer work for Amnesty International and Peace Union of Finland. This is my first fundraising campaign.

A lot of the money collected so far (March 2025) has been used for daily living, as prizes are exorbitant and there is no work.

As you may know, the border exit fees keep changing, but with current rates these funds should allow us to get them to safety when the borders open:

2x8000 USD / adult

5000 USD / child

1000 USD / very initial living expenses

Any excess funds will be used towards initial living expenses. Reaching the first goal will hopefully be enough to evacuate, but more is needed to settle into their new environment and focus on rebuilding their lives. This means food, rent, and clothing. As said, a lot of the money has already been spent (a tent costs 1000 USD!), so the longer the war continues, the longer we need to increase the goal.

I was connected to Diana and her family via a kind-hearted pro wheelchair basketball player Anas Mushtaha. Funds collected will be transferred to my Aus bank account, then sent by Western Union to Diana.