Hi everyone, my name is Sara Murtaja and I’m a Palestinian American originally from Gaza. Under the current horrific circumstances going on in Gaza right now, my cousin and her family are facing immense danger, trauma, and a scarcity of the basic necessities needed to survive. Originally from the North of Gaza, my cousin Ghada Daloul, age 49, had to leave the home she built for herself and her family as it got airstriked and traveled to the south of Gaza to escape death from heavy bombardment and starvation. However, even in the south, life continues to be unbearable as they struggle to afford the tent they currently live in, food, water, electricity, and life saving medicine. Ghada’s family consists of her husband, 2 sons, and 2 daughters, ages 59, 26, 16, 20, and 18, respectively.

Their places of worship, their homes, their doctors’ offices, where they grocery shop, financial and educational institutions, and every place that can help sustain and grow life has now been destroyed. If they remain in Gaza, their lives and future will be no more. With that being said, they’ve been left with no choice but to travel to Egypt and like every other Gazan at the moment, are struggling to gather the funds needed to make that journey. To be able to cross the Rafah border, anyone under the age of 16 has to pay $2,500 USD per person and those above 16 must pay $5,000 USD. For Ghada and her family to gather that money to travel and help cover the daily necessities needed for when they make it to Egypt such as housing, food, water, and other day-to-day expenses, is an impossible feat to do alone. I’m writing to you today with great urgency in hopes of gathering enough donations to allow them to live a better life and escape the daily unjust challenges that have been forced upon them through no fault of their own.

Any and all donations will make all the difference in the world to them. Thank you for your generosity and consideration.