Help my family to escape the war in Gaza

Hi everyone,,

My name is Jihan Qunoo.

I'm a Palestinian from Gaza currently living in Ottawa, Canada. I am reaching out with a difficult request to help save my family in Gaza from dying or, more accurately, from being killed in an Israeli bombing or a lack of access to food, clean water, and healthcare. My brothers Ahmed and Sami, my sisters Shereen and Sofia, my nephews, and my nieces are all stuck and require financial support to escape the war in Gaza Strip immediately.

Here’s a little bit about me and my family:

I have spent most of my life in Gaza, surviving through more than four Israeli aggressions before seeking safety for my three children in Canada. To be honest, it would have been emotionally easier for me to endure the bombs alongside my family in Gaza than to witness their struggle from afar through the news reports.

Since the start of the attack on Gaza after 7 October, my family has been forcibly displaced multiple times. First from Gaza City to Nusirate in the south (Middle area), and now they are living in a tent in Rafah, the most southern area in the Gaza Strip. They are facing dire circumstances, lacking the most basic essentials of life: food, clean water, and warmth in these unforgiving cold days.

The situation is becoming increasingly critical with the spread of diseases, a scarcity of essential needs, rainy days where their tent floods, and the heightened risk due to the conflict and ongoing bombardment around them. There is nowhere safe in Gaza - it is true what the UN says!

The situation on the ground in Gaza is even more critical than what the media portrays. Each passing day, those who have survived the bombings face new threats—lack of decent shelter, shortage of clean food and water, inadequate sanitation facilities, and the inevitable spread of diseases.

My fears intensify for my unwell brother and sister, both suffering from asthma exacerbated by the necessity of cooking their food over an open flame due to the absence of gas. My niece and nephew, grappling with the same condition, are drained and exhausted. Over 20 people, including their families, are crammed into a small tent, all at risk of losing their lives. I am overwhelmed with helplessness.

We have lost beloved relatives and friends in Gaza. We have also lost everything. My sisters homes are now shattered to the ground, which were located in Shajaeya and Al Naser neighborhoods. We keep reminding ourselves that the material is not what is most important.

My family—my two sisters, my two brothers, and my nieces and nephews—are not able to survive in Gaza anymore. It is so sad to say this! We hope to return to Gaza one day, but for now, they need to leave to maintain their health and simply to stay alive.

This picture of my brother and his kids before the war:

Current situation after the war:

My family is in a miserable situation.

On January 9, 2024, Canada opened special immigration measures allowing us to sponsor our immediate families, albeit without any financial assistance provided to either us or them. While I am committed to sponsoring their housing needs, I find myself in need of your support to cover the expenses related to plane tickets and short-term essential care.

This fundraiser is a lifeline, a lifeline to cover the costs of exiting Gaza and relocating to Canada, offering them a chance at a safer and more stable life. Your support, no matter the amount, can be the difference between life and death for them.

I am reaching out for your assistance to cover the permit fees necessary for my four siblings and their children, equaling to 25 people, to leave Gaza and safely reach Egypt. We need to raise at least $50,000 CAD, which breaks down to covering the cost of the following, obtaining the necessary permits, crossing fees to pass through the Rafah-Egypt border, Temporary Resident Visa application fees, and biometrics fees, respectively:

-$5,000 USD per adult, $2,500 USD for each individual under 16.

-$100 CAN per person or $500 CAN per family unit of 5 or more people.

-$85 CAN per person or $170 per family unit of 2 or more people.

Additionally, for my family, who arrived in Egypt, their cost of renting comes to roughly $500 CAN per month per family. Finally, the cost of flights to come to Canada from Egypt once their visas get approved.

Your solidarity and assistance during this critical time hold significant meaning for us, and we deeply appreciate your humanity.

Everyone in Gaza deserves to live their life to the fullest.

The Palestinian cause is noble, and in the face of Israeli colonialism, we will remain steadfast. Your support today will ensure that at least one Palestinian family finds safety amidst the relentless bombardment and brutal conditions in Gaza.

Palestinians must survive this; we must survive, and you can help.

Share this Campaign

Your support in any form counts. Even if you are unable to contribute financially, do not undermine the power of raising awareness. Please consider sharing our plea with as many people as possible to relief our family during these incredibly challenging times.

With heartfelt sincerity, Jihan Qunoo