Hello, my name is Adham Al-Ajla, and I am from Gaza City.

I am a graphic designer, and I studied Information Technology and Graphic Design at the University Faculty of Science in Gaza. My family and I once enjoyed beautiful days in our lovely home.

Our simple, peaceful life was completely destroyed when our house was bombed on October 27, 2023 (see photos below). We lost everything we owned. We also lost many of our loved ones in this horrific war.

My immediate family — my wife, our four children, my father, my mother, my sister, and my brother — first ran to my uncle’s house outside Shuja’iya, then to the Arab National Hospital, which was later bombed as well. We miraculously survived.

After the hospital was destroyed, and after many encounters with death, we fled to Rafah.

I once dreamed of becoming a world-class graphic designer, but the war shattered my dreams and those of my family.

I used to work with a Saudi online marketing company and with other clients as a freelance designer. I was successful in my work and had many happy clients before the genocide began. When our house was bombed, I lost my laptop and then my clients, my only source of income. I no longer have the money to buy another one.

After living homeless for seven days on the streets of Rafah, we managed to secure tents, which is where we are now. Our children are suffering from cold, hunger, and sickness. We lack sanitary supplies, drink contaminated water, and do not have enough food, which only worsens our suffering.

The war has been devastating, and we are facing unimaginable hardships. I am asking for your help to get my family safely across the Egyptian border before another invasion begins.

What We Need

Travel to Egypt through Yahala Travel and Tourism costs about $5,000 per person.

We are a family of 10:

• Myself (Adham) and my wife

• Our children: Mido (11 years old), Ghazal (10

), Mahmoud (4), and Ahmad (3)

• My father Hani (50) and my mother Ibtisam (45)

• My brother Mohammed (22) and my sister Enas (25)

Saving our family means overcoming huge financial and bureaucratic obstacles. The cost of safe passage to Egypt and obtaining the required documents is far beyond what we can manage alone.

Based on what friends who crossed the border told us, the cost of transportation from Rafah to Egypt has increased significantly during the ongoing war. Once we reach Egypt, we will also need to secure housing and buy essential items to furnish a small living space — such as mattresses — and purchase a new laptop so I can return to work and support my family again.

While our goal is to work and become self-sufficient, we will need some help covering rent and living expenses for a few months as we recover from the trauma we have endured. My family also urgently needs medical checkups and healthcare, as months of unhealthy food and exposure to disease in the shelters have taken a toll on our health.

Estimated Costs

• 6 adults × $5,000 = $30,000 USD

• 4 children × $2,500 = $10,000 USD

• 3 months of rent and living expenses in Egypt = $5,000 USD

Total: $45,000–$50,000 USD

How You Can Help

Donate:

Any amount, no matter how small, will help us buy food, survive, and cover the financial and logistical challenges of crossing safely into Egypt.

Share:

By sharing our story, you can extend our reach and possibly save our lives.

Support:

Any guidance, resources, or assistance you can offer would be incredibly valuable in helping us reach safety and stability.

Your contribution is a lifeline for my family and for many others like us.

It will not only provide food and shelter, but also help me rebuild my career as a graphic designer.

Your kindness will breathe new life into my family, ignite hope, and give us the strength to rise again from the ashes.

Thank you so much for your help, and may God bless you.

— Adham Al-Ajla