Save my only child left, Sumaya, to get out of Gaza.

My name is Shimaa, I’m 32 years old, from Gaza. After losing four of my children killed in shelling, it’s with a heavy heart that I ask you to help my daughter, Sumaya, who’s only 8 years old an I to escape the atrocities of Gaza. We would like also to take with us her cousins, Jana, 7, and Amro, 5 years old, who lost their mother in November 2023.

When the war started in Gaza, I decided to go to the central region, believing it to be a safe place. We went to Deir al-Balah, where my sister’s modest house was. We were displaced for nearly two weeks. We lived there in fear and destruction due to the intensity of the bombing. However, Israel launched a severe strike on the house adjacent to my sister’s home on the twenty-first day of the month.

In October 2023, my little daughter, the quiet angel Wateen, who was not even three months old, was killed. The seven-year-old Princess Sama was also killed, leaving her twin sister Sumaya alone to struggle with life. My eldest son, Abdullah, 11, was seriously injured. He was my precious support, my everything. He stayed in intensive care for 25 days, which felt like 25 years as I waited for his recovery. But unfortunately, he died on November 14, 2023.

At that time, I sustained moderate injuries. Initially, it was thought that I had been killed for being buried under two floors, but thank God they found me. I stayed in the hospital for a while, with injuries to my head, fractures in my rib cage, a fractured pelvis, and an injured hand, which required surgery. On that day, my dear son Yamen, 9, and my daughter Sumaya, 7, survived the barbaric bombing, and we thanked God for this blessing.

Days passed, and we struggled with life and memories. On December 12, 2023, we went out together—Sumaya, Yamen, and I. Yamen bought everything he wanted. Suddenly, while we were walking on the street a very strong strike occurred. I felt as if I had died. Yamen was seriously injured in his head and feet and remained in care for 11 days. I suffered burns to my hands and head, and Sumaya was also injured. I woke up from the calling of Sumaya , “Mama, Mama.” I will never forget her voice. “Yamen became a martyr”, passing away 11 days later, on December 23. That day felt, again, that the World felt under my feet.

On our way to the hospital, Sumaya said, “They killed my brothers. Who will I play with now?” Her fear was immense, and I tried to stay strong for her, despite the horror she witnessed. She saw her brothers covered in blood, and to this day, she keeps the clothes stained with Abdullah’s blood from the first bombing. Sumaya doesn’t speak about her brothers; she only looks at their pictures now and then.

We don’t know where to go amid this destruction and fear. Every passing day, we are unsure if we will survive the indiscriminate bombings. Two days before Yamen was killed, I found him crying alone. When I asked him, he said, “I miss my brothers.” Yamen didn’t know fear, but in the last two days before the bombing, he was terrified, and he never left my side. I didn’t realize he sensed his time was close...

I request this last hope of help. By donating to our fundraiser, you can help us secure the funds needed to escape the violence, the fear and hunger and to hope for a better future for Sumaya and her cousins that I take care of. Every dollar counts and we will be greatly appreciated.

Here is how money will be spent:

• paying around 5000$ per person to cross Raffah borders and get safely to Egypt. Totaling $20,000 for four.

• Additionally, the costs of relocation, including travel expenses, temporary housing, and resettlement. We estimate that we will need a total of $20,000 to safely evacuate our family from Gaza and start a new life in a safer environment for a period of time in Egypt

• Around 4000$ covering GoFundMe transaction fees (2.9% + 0.30$ per transaction)

• The rest of the money will be spent on daily expenses for a while, the education of the children, doctors, and psychological support.

With a lot of gratitude,

Shimaa Derawi