My name is Bara' Al-Shurafa, I am 15 years old. We are a family of six, consisting of my mother, father, and four children. The youngest of my siblings is 8 years old. Since October 7, 2023, we have been suffering from a brutal war that has destroyed our dreams and hopes, and has surpassed the limits of human understanding. During this brutal war, we have endured hardships that even mountains could not bear. We are facing a severe shortage of water and an extreme lack of food and nutrition due to the siege imposed on northern Gaza for the past 10 months, which prevents the entry of essential items such as meat, vegetables, and fruits. This situation has forced us to eat animal fodder like barley, causing us to lose weight, contract various diseases, and suffer from a significant weakening of our immune systems. 
 
We also suffer from a severe shortage of water, often walking about a kilometer to get a single gallon of water, which is about 16 liters, barely enough for the five members of the family. As a result of the war, our home and agricultural land, which used to provide us with our daily sustenance, have been completely destroyed and razed. We have also experienced frequent displacement, moving from place to place and area to area due to the horrific and brutal bombardment. 
 
In addition to this, we have been deprived of education and the opportunity to build a future. 
 
We also suffer from fear and terror due to the intense bombing, fire belts, and explosions, with the sounds of tanks being extremely frightening. The hospitals, which are the lifeline for every sick and needy person, have also been destroyed. We are facing a shortage of medicines and vaccines as diseases increase and spread among us, with no solution in sight as there are no hospitals or medical supplies available here in Gaza. We live in constant fear for my younger siblings because they have not received their general vaccinations, especially after the spread of polio due to the lack of cleaning supplies and the massive accumulation of waste in the streets. I was also supposed to receive vaccinations against tetanus and typhoid, but I have not received them due to the lack of vaccines. Furthermore, sewage water has flooded the streets, posing a serious threat to our children. We suffered from jaundice, battling it for about two weeks with symptoms of fatigue, dizziness, and other symptoms. It is a deadly disease. My younger siblings also suffer from widespread skin diseases in northern Gaza. Their small bodies have become covered with red spots, and as I mentioned before, there is no available treatment due to the destruction of hospitals and health centers. 
 
We are also suffering from the absence of cooking gas, forcing us to use wood and plastic to start fires, which could lead to poisoning. We have been without electricity since October 7, spending our days in darkness, causing immense fear for my younger siblings. This has also made it very difficult to charge our phones and nightlight batteries. We have had to travel kilometers from our home to find places with electricity, costing us a lot to charge our phones and batteries. 
 
Moreover, we have had no stable income since the war began. 
 
I am pleading for your help for my family so that we can live a better life.

Izma Ahmed

Anonymous

Help for a better life and to get out of Gaza

Still €38,606 to go. Help us build momentum.