Emergency: help me evacuate my family from Gaza

Time is of the essence, any day delayed means they are closer to death . Any amount can help save the lives of my two sisters and parents who are currently in Gaza 

 I hope this message finds you well. 

My name is Rawan AbuMahady, a 30-year-old Palestinian-currently residing in Canada. While I currently live in Canada, may parents and my two youngest sisters reside in Gaza. I am a social worker/researcher who has lived through the various wars and escalations in Gaza-in 2008,2012,and 2014. Just as I was starting to recover from the PTSD of the previous conflicts, the recent war brought catastrophe and destruction. I find myself compelled to seek your urgent assistance.

 As the war on Gaza began after October 7th, my whole family members were cut off from the rest of the Gaza Strip and remain isolated in the Middle Area (Al-Nuseirat),where my parents' house is. The house quickly became overcrowded with displaced family members seeking refuge, and with the disruption of communication, access to food, water, electricity, and basic necessities became scarce.

 I reached out to the Palestinian embassy in Canada, along with the Canadian goverment, appealing for the evacuation of my family. However,  81 days have passed since the atrocities began, and given I am currently awaiting my permenant residenct status, there has been no success or even attempt to evacuate my family to Egypt. My younger sisters, Hadeel (24)and Ayah(22 years old), has been expereincing severe panic attacks and have no access to food or clean water.

The continuous bombardment and the ongoing genocide pose a significant threat to their well-being. What pains me even more is that due to the lack of medications in Gaza, my Mom, who is a type 2 Diabetis patiant and was scheduled for an urgent eye surgery, have had no access to insulin or any medical care for the past 3 months. Some of my family members sought refuge in the southernmost part of Gaza (Rafah) in tents. However, my parents, and sisters have no alternative place to stay, forced to remain in the Nusierat refugee camp, which is now the subject of continuous severe bombardment since christmas started . It deeply distresses me that my sisters and my parents, are suffering so much. The only way to help them is to leave Gaza to receive the necessary medical care and attention abroad. 

 Despite my relentless efforts to reach the Canadian embassy and multiple international NGO’s through various channels, all in vain. Yet, there exists a secure and legitimate avenue for urgent travel through the Rafah border crossing to Egypt, requiring a hefty $7,000 travel fee per individual. 

As an empowered and financially independent woman, this sum is utterly beyond my means. Hence, I am compelled to urgently launch this campaign. 

 In light of these circumstances, I have decided to launch a fundraising campaign to evacuate my parents and my sisters 

 * $28,000 for Immediate Support: The campaign aims to cover the necessary funds to cover the travel fees required for a safe and prompt passage through the Rafah Crossing from Gaza to Egypt, to make sure my sisters and my parents receive the necessary medical assistance they need as soon as possible, where the cost per person amounts to 7 thousand dollars, with a total of 28 thousand dollars. * I am fully aware of the value of money and the effort one puts into their work or personal life. Therefore, I have prioritized only the evacuation of my family . I will not personally benefit from the funds raised; they will solely cover the coordination costs to Egypt.

 * The additional $2000 is required for the transportation costs between Al-Nusierat camp to Rafah City. * 

The campaign will cover the cost of the travel fees to Egypt, while I personally will take care of all other expenses related to accommodation and food. Due to the recent bombing in the area, there is no communication network to connect with my family. However, I managed to communicate with a neighbour 10 minutes away from my family. They are looking into evacuating the neighborhood, yet have to destination in mind because no where is safe. 

 Do not view the lives of my sisters as more numbers; Hadeel and Ayah are filled with love and hope. I raised them with care, and each of them had dreams and aspirations. Hadeel dreams of becoming a fashion designer and is an aspiring author. Ayah, despite being born into a life of wars and destruction, is filled with art and motivation, she aspires to be an artist and graphic designer. My parents are beautiful soulds; my father is a retired surgen and my mom is a gorgeous embroiderer. They share deep love for nature, their cats, art, music and cienema. 

 My large Gaza family is filled with love and warmth, and losing them is a tremendous loss. I appreciate your efforts and time in reading my plea. I never expected to find myself in this situation. It is incredibly challenging to navigate these circumstances as an independent woman proud of her financial independence, finding herself in this dire situation.

 I understand the value of every donation and the effort behind it. I assure you that all funds will be strictly used for the evacuation of my sisters and my parents. I will personally bear any additional expenses incurred.

 Your support will make a significant difference in alleviating the suffering of my family and ensuring that my sisters and my parents receive the care they urgently need. As time ticking away translates to lives lost in Gaza I'm here and ready to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Don't hesitate to reach out and connect with me 

 With gratitude 

Rawan AbuMahady