Support Sama and her family to evacuate from Gaza

Sama and her 4 children, sick mother, and husband are trapped in Rafah, and need your help to evacuate to safety and access humanitarian needs.

My name is Sama Hussain, 37 years old, a mother and a writer from Gaza. I have 4 children, the eldest of whom is Yazan who is 15 years old. Nour is 11 years old. Ahmed is 7, and my youngest is Joud - who is only 5. We are currently displaced in Rafah, living in dire humanitarian conditions inside a makeshift tent with my husband and elderly sick mother.

Yazan (15), Nour (11), Ahmed (7), and Joud (5) before the war.

As an award-winning novelist, I never expected to have to craft words under such harrowing circumstances to save my own life and the life of my family. But this is now my story.

Sama with Ahemd (7) and Joud (5) before the war

I write today with a heart heavy with pain and worries. As I write these words, I remember pictures of our demolished home that was destroyed because of the ongoing devastating war in Gaza. I see my children in front of me and feel heartbroken for how pale and emaciated they have become due to ongoing fear and malnutrition. I feel devastated for my husband, who lost his livelihood and everything he has worked so hard to provide us. I feel scared for my elderly sick mother, who needs peace and care. And I long for my own lifelong dream of reaching the pinnacle of writing and cultural creativity for my community.

Joud (5) in our home before the war

Before this devastation we used to live in Tal Al Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City. We all lived together and enjoyed a beautiful and quiet life until October 7th. Since the beginning of the war, our house has been bombed, our neighborhood flattened, our community scattered, and we have now been displaced 5 times seeking safety. We have lost many relatives from our extended family.

The nylon tent in Rafah that Sama and the family are using as shelter

And now, we all live in Rafah in dire humanitarian conditions on the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip. We constructed our own nylon tent – with nowhere else to go. The tent does not protect us from cold or heat, as we continue to face tremendous challenges to access basic necessities. My poor mother is sick and needs treatment and proper nutrition. She suffers from advanced Osteoarthritis and high blood pressure. My middle son, Ahmed, needs constant medical attention. All my children need professional child psychological support and care. None of these options are available for us anymore.

Ahmed (7) in the makeshift tent

I lost my own passion for dreaming. I dreamed of establishing a cultural club and a public library for children in the Gaza Strip before the war. Now everything is destroyed, so are our dreams - gone and scattered.

My children lost their childhood, their education, and their laughter. The only thing I can now fight for is their safety, their lives, and their futures.

I asked dear friends to create this fundraising campaign because I need your help in providing financial support to facilitate our evacuation to safety in Egypt, as well as to cover the treatment costs for my mother and son. The money collected here will be used to cover travel costs in addition to the costs for accommodation, basic necessities, and health care. These costs for the 7 of us will be around £16,000 GBP (roughly $20,000 USD).

Sadly, we have lost all our savings because of the war, and now need to humbly ask for the support and kindness of strangers to help raise this amount. We have run our of options.

If we can reach safety in Egypt, we will start collecting what remains of our lives. I can attend to the health of my mother and children. I will be able to provide my children with the necessary education they have been desperately missing. I can also return to writing and start pursuing my dream again, to provide a future for my family. I want all children to read more, create more, educate more, and be the hope for a better life for the next generation.

Thank you to everyone who will contribute to our support.

Sending love from Gaza.

Nour (11), Ahmed (7), and Joud (5) with Sama before the war.

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This fundraiser is being organized by D'Arcy Williams, on behalf of dear Sama and her family. We already have established links to transfer the money directly to Sama once we reach the fundraising goal. Thank you all for taking the time to read about Sama's story, and to support a better future for Yazan, Nour, Ahmed, and Joud.