Help Iyas's Family: Evacuate From Gaza & Education

My name is Iyas Ahmed, and I'm just 25 years old. But the trials of living in Gaza have aged me beyond my years. Today, I'm reaching out to you with a plea for help, as my family and I find ourselves in desperate circumstances. We desperately need your support to safely escape through the Rafah border crossing.

My heart's deepest desire is twofold: to continue my education and chase my dreams, and above all, to keep my family safe until this storm passes.

We used to call the north of Gaza home – my parents, my two siblings, and me. But tragedy struck us early. In 2006, a merciless attack tore through our home while we were inside. That day, we lost my father and my aunt, and the rest of us were left broken and battered, our home reduced to rubble.

And the suffering didn't end there. Since the war erupted in October 2023, life in Gaza has become a nightmare. The first week of the conflict brought the horror right to our doorstep, shattering any plans for my future. I was set to begin my Master's in Renewable Energy Engineering at Frankfurt University on October 15th, but the war had other plans. We were forced to flee multiple times as the bombs fell around us, turning our once peaceful neighborhood into a wasteland of destruction. Each step we took was haunted by death and loss.

Now, here I am, in a makeshift tent in Rafah. The conditions are dire, and my biggest fear is for the safety of my family and myself. Yet, amidst this chaos, my sole focus remains on finding a way out through the Rafah border crossing. It's not just about my dreams anymore – it's about providing a safe haven for my family, especially my mother, who battles chronic illnesses like hypertension and diabetes. Here, she can't get the medical care and medication she so desperately needs.

To cross the Rafah border into Egypt, we need to come up with a hefty fee ranging from $7,000 to $8,000 per person. They won't even consider adding our names until we can prove we have the funds.

Please, help me make my dreams of education a reality. Your donation, no matter how small, could mean the world to us. And please, share my story far and wide with your loved ones. Every moment that passes in Gaza is a moment filled with the risk of death. Your generosity in this time of need will never be forgotten.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.