Cynthia Crabtree

Anas and His Family – Gaza Anas and his family lived a normal, working life in Gaza before the current war. They owned a small shop that rented out suits for weddings, graduations, and special occasions. Business was steady. Anas’s older brother worked at the vegetable market. His younger brother worked at a drinking-water desalination plant. They had jobs, income, and a future they could plan around. That life ended in an instant. The suit-rental shop was destroyed when a house across the street was bombed. The vegetable market and drinking-water desalination plant were destroyed. Both brothers lost their work. Now the entire family is without income and dependent on whatever aid or help can reach them. Everyday survival has become impossible for most people. Markets that still function are either empty or price-gouged beyond recognition. Basic groceries that once cost a few dollars now cost many times more—if they are available at all. Families spend what little money they have on flour, rice, oil, or clean water. Children go without proper food. Adults skip meals so the youngest can eat. The cost of living has not merely risen; it has collapsed into a daily struggle for calories and clean water. Leaving is almost as hard as staying. It currently costs roughly $30,000 to arrange coordination and evacuate one adult from Gaza. That figure covers the complex web of permits, brokers, and logistics required to cross the border. Without a valid passport and complete documentation, exit is nearly impossible. Many families have relatives or offers of refuge outside Palestine, yet they cannot leave. The paperwork, the money, and the permits form a wall that only a tiny number of people manage to cross. Israel has stated that it wants Palestinians to leave Gaza. In practice, the number of people who have been able to evacuate remains extremely low. The gap between the stated policy and the actual exits is wide. People who want to go, who have places to go, and who are willing to pay the enormous cost are still trapped. Meanwhile the death toll continues to climb. Anas’s family is one of thousands in the same position: homes and businesses destroyed, livelihoods gone, food and water insecure, and no realistic path out. They are not asking for politics. They are asking for the world to understand that ordinary people who once worked, rented suits, sold vegetables, and purified water are now fighting simply to stay alive—and that the exits remain closed for almost everyone. If you want to help Anas and his family directly, or if you simply want others to understand the human and financial reality inside Gaza right now, share this.

Hi everyone, I want to be completely transparent about my relationship with Anas and how the funds will be handled. I am not a family member of Anas. I am simply a friend who has been in regular communication with him about his situation in Gaza and checking in on him and his family. All funds raised will be received into my personal Navy Federal Credit Union Bank (in my name) into an account created for the donations. From there, I will withdraw the money and send it directly to Anas via PayPal so he can use it for support. Thank you for your continued support and trust. I will keep everyone updated as funds are transferred.

Support for Anas and His Family Cynthia is creating this fundraiser for Anas Hisham Yousef Qwaider, a friend in Gaza who is trying to hold on to hope for a safer and better future—not only for himself, but for his family. Anas and his family have been facing an incredibly difficult situation. The continuous shelling and daily loss of life have taken a heavy toll on his mental health, and he has not had enough help up to this point. He is trying to survive day by day while carrying grief that is difficult to put into words. Their financial situation has become extremely difficult; without steady income, they are unable to meet even basic daily needs. On top of this, Anas was injured while going to an aid site. He sustained facial injuries that now require dental implants and facial cosmetic procedures—urgent medical needs that add another layer of hardship. At the same time, the costs connected to evacuation are overwhelming, making it even harder to move forward. This fundraiser is meant to give Anas and his family real support during a time of uncertainty and to remind them that they are not alone. The funds raised will help with daily personal necessities for the family, cover essential medical care related to Anas’s facial injuries, and allow them to begin saving toward evacuation-related expenses. Exact costs and the route are still unknown, but we want to start building support now so they can work toward a safer, more hopeful path forward. Cynthia will provide consistent updates so everyone can see how the money is being used. If you are able, please consider donating to support Anas and his family. Sharing this fundraiser with others would also mean so much and could help reach more people who want to stand with them during this difficult time. Every act of kindness, no matter the size, can help Anas and his loved ones feel supported and bring them closer to the future they are hoping for. Thank you for reading, and for any support you can give.