I am Ahmed from Gaza.

I have lived a life filled with pain and hardships, but nothing could have prepared me for what happened after October 7th.

On that fateful day, events unfolded that were harsh and indescribably painful. Because of these events, I lost my beloved mother while she was anxiously awaiting treatment and travel to continue her medical care.

Losing her in such dire circumstances was the greatest pain I have ever felt.

I lived in a modest house with my wife and little daughter, and our lives were full of challenges, but we dreamed of a better future for our child, one filled with peace and safety. However, the war came and destroyed everything. Our homes were turned into rubble, and we lost everything we owned. We no longer have a house or a shelter, nor even the safety we dreamed of for our child.

We became homeless, searching for a place to shelter us and protect us from the harshness of life. We live each day in constant fear of the unknown future, remembering with sadness those days when we dreamed of a better life. The war didn't just steal our homes; it stole our dreams, our safety, and our loved ones.

Now, we live as displaced people in our own land. We have no home, no income, no safe place to rest. We sleep wherever we can find shelter, often hungry, cold, and afraid. My daughter, still too young to understand the cruelty of war, asks me where her grandmother is, and when we can go back home. I have no answers — only prayers.

I am reaching out to the world with a heart full of sorrow but still holding onto a shred of hope. We need urgent help — not just to survive today, but to rebuild a life worth living. Any contribution, no matter how small, can help us buy food, find shelter, and hold on through this storm.

Please, stand with us in our darkest hour. Your kindness can be the light that guides us back to safety, dignity, and hope.