Hi,

My name is Mohammed Hemaid. I’m originally from Gaza, Palestine, but I’ve recently moved to Canada. I’m reaching out to ask for your support for my cousin, Alaa, and his family, who are still in Gaza and going through unimaginable hardship.

They’re a family of five from Gaza, trying to get through each day under incredibly harsh conditions. Alaa lives with their mother, Hanadi, and two younger sisters, Faten and Lama. Their father, Osama, passed away six months ago from stomach cancer. Because of the war, he couldn’t get the treatment, medicine, or even proper food he needed. His health slowly got worse until he weighed just 30 kilograms before he passed.

Since then, Hanadi has been doing everything she can to take care of her children, but it’s just too much. Both Alaa and Faten have university degrees—one in Accounting, the other in Software Development—but jobs in Gaza are impossible to find. Lama, the youngest, had to leave school because of the war. Every day is a struggle just to survive.

They walk long distances to get clean water. There’s barely any electricity, so at night they use a phone flashlight because they don’t have a battery or generator. The internet is mostly gone, so even reaching out for help is hard.

Food prices have shot up because of the blockade. They can barely afford anything, and malnutrition is starting to take its toll. Their home was badly damaged by bombings, and they’re living in dangerous conditions. There’s no gas, so they cook over firewood when they can find it.

They have no income, no way out, and nothing left to rebuild with. They’re asking for help—not just to get through today, but to have a chance at a future. Any donation, no matter how small, can help them buy food, get clean water, and hold on to a bit of hope.