Dear Humanity, dear good people from the far corners of this world:

I know you are out there. I know you have been taking to the streets, to the halls of power, raising your voices to preserve what is left of what is good and right in this world. Your demonstrations and protests have helped save what is left of Gaza and its people from complete destruction and annihilation. You give me hope everyday. All is not lost.

My name is Othman Salim Al Nuwati. I am trying to save the life of my wife, Abeer, and that of our two children: our son, Mohammad (age 13), and our daughter Tasneem (age 17). All three are currently in Gaza City facing an uncertain future.

Before the war on Gaza began on October 8, 2023, Israeli military authorities authorized me to leave the strip with my second eldest son, Wassim, to seek medical relief for him in the West Bank. Wassim suffers from renal failure. Another child, my oldest, Salim (age 23), is studying to be a doctor in Egypt.

Since the war began, Wassim and I have been stranded in Ramallah without a way to rejoin our family or to bring them out of Gaza to be with us in Ramallah. Our home in Gaza was completely destroyed early in the war. My family has been forced to flee over twenty times. My wife and our younger son are now living on the ruins of our home in Gaza City because there is no other safe place for them to go.

In Ramallah, I have been taking odd jobs (yardwork and office cleaning) while I care for my ill son. What I make goes to pay for our expenses in Ramallah, to support Abeer and our two children in Gaza, and to support my son Salim in Cairo. It is not enough to pay for the extremely high cost of food for my family in Gaza or the commission of the money changers who charge 40% of what I send.

Everyone in Gaza is suffering and I have never asked for help before. I am desperate now. I need to make sure my wife and children have what they need to sustain themselves and to eventually pay their way out of Gaza so that they can join my oldest son Salim in a safe place. My hope is that my wife and children can be together in either Belgium, Canada or a third country where Salim will continue his medical studies. I'm sharing some pictures of my family so that you can see how beautiful they are.

Whatever support you can send would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for helping if you can.

Sincerely,

Othman

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Photo of me Othman Salim Al Nawati

Photo of my son Wasim who lives with me in Ramallah

This is my son Mohammad and daughter Tasnim who are in Gaza City with my wife Abeer.