Help My Family Survive This Winter in Gaza

My name is Ibrahim Abudaqqa, and I’m an art teacher from Gaza. One year ago, I lived with my wife and our seven beautiful children in a beautiful home in Abasan. Today, that life is a distant memory—we’ve lost everything.

Since October, we’ve had to flee not just our home, but every place we sought refuge. No matter where we went, bombs followed us. Overcrowded schools, makeshift tents—every temporary shelter was destroyed. Now, we find ourselves living on the streets of Khan Younis, exposed to the bitter winter cold.

But the pain doesn’t stop there. In early 2024, my brother was killed by Israeli soldiers. Losing him has been heartbreaking, especially while we are barely managing to survive ourselves. I have many other siblings and relatives here in Gaza, and every day I fear for their lives. The constant bombings, the terror—it never ends. We live in the shadow of destruction, not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

My children are suffering. They’ve developed skin infections because we have no clean water, no hygiene products. It’s starting to rain, temperatures are dropping, and we have nothing: no tent, no blankets, no mattresses—barely enough food to survive. We are cold, vulnerable, and completely exposed. I’m terrified for my children. How can their small, weakened bodies survive the coming winter?

Life in Gaza has always been hard, but it’s never been this desperate. In 2014, I lost four of my uncles to an airstrike and was severely injured myself. It took many surgeries and years of recovery to regain some sense of normalcy. But nothing compares to the helplessness I feel now, watching my children suffer without being able to protect them.

I’m asking for your help. We urgently need funds to buy food and hopefully warm clothing, blankets, and, if we can find one, a tent to shelter us from the cold. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a life-saving difference for my family.

Please, help us survive this winter. Every contribution counts, and every Euro or Dollar brings us a little closer to hope.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Ibrahim Abudaqqa & Family

P.S.: As it is technically not possible to receive the money directly in Gaza, your donations will first be received by my sister who lives in Germany and who will send every cent on to us in Gaza!