Urgent : Help Obaida Start His Life Again

Hi I'm Obaida Mahdi and I’m 23 years old. I'm a Software engineer, and I worked as a freelancer before the war. I graduated from my university with a major in website design and development, but my university was destroyed. Now it is an occupation military barracks.

I am reaching out to you today to share a story of resilience, survival, and the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity.

I’ve lost my job, my dreams and my ambitions as a result of the war. All my work equipment– my expensive laptop and computer, were completely destroyed.

My beautiful office was destroyed, in which I used to work and earn my daily living. I lost all my equipment and devices which I used to design websites.

Now, I carry water for long distances and heat fires to cook food for my family. I just want a good chance to start over.

After enduring 153 days of war and aggression against the Gaza Strip, my home in Gaza City was targeted and destroyed during a bombing. Fortunately, my ten family members and I miraculously escaped unharmed.

I fondly remember the days before this nightmare, when happiness was sharing a meal in a home that no longer exists, stripped by the brutality of the occupation.

My friend Zoe, who is located in the US, will send all donations directly to me.

Donating will make a big difference, as it helps my family access food, water, shelter, and medical treatment right now, while also helping us rebuild our lives. It's everyone's right to live in stability and safety.

I am forever grateful to every donor, please know you are helping my family survive and rebuild our lives.

For transparency on GoFundMe:

1. Who you are: Zoe Vuillermet

2. Where you're from: Chapel Hill, NC

3a. The full names of individuals you are seeking to support or aid: Obaida Mahdi, his siblings Eslam, Maryam, Ayman, Moaz, Akram, and his parents Mahdi and Ohood. I am using first names for their security, but GoFundMe has their full names and has approved my fundraiser.

3b. Where they're located: Their home is in North Gaza City but they have been displaced to the South of Gaza Strip

3c. Your relationship to them: Obaida Mahdi is my friend

4a. How the funds will be spent: I will provide updates as funds are spent because the cost of food, drinkable water, tents, and medication, has increased drastically. Besides paying for basic living necessities, funds will be saved to rebuild their family home because border crossings are now closed.

4b. How you plan to get them to the beneficiary: As soon as I receive a transfer from GoFundMe, I send the funds directly to Obaida using PayPal, a money-sharing service.