Not in search for life, but to save a human life

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Kindred Spirits,

I hope this message finds you well and filled with the same warmth and compassion that you've so generously shared with others in the past.

Today, I come to you with a cause close to my heart, one that embodies the true essence of community and the power of collective kindness.

This is a message from Abdulruhman, my friend from Gaza, to all of you

We need your support to help him and his family ! :

I write to you with pain in my heart and wounds covering my life. I am Abdul Rahman Ismail, a journalist who has not yet completed his studies due to the war and a youth activist from Deir al-Balah in Gaza. A 21-year-old survivor from Gaza, but I don’t know if I will write this phrase in the future. I live with my father and younger brother under constant Israeli bombing and attacks. I lost many of my friends and relatives, and survived many Israeli bombings

It was inevitable on a day to be killed when a nearby building was hit by Israeli bombings. I was on the first floor, and it struck the above floor. I don’t how I even survived.

Besides the panic and fear, every day, I struggle for two meals. I even have to reduce them to one due to the high costs of essentials. My future as a student has faded in journalism. My university was completely demolished. Everything I’ve been building during my life has evaporated. Instead of standing on the graduation stage next month, I will fight for my existence.

The war on Gaza has split my family into two parts; three of my siblings are now abroad. We’re stuck in Gaza and want to gather before this war robs our hearts.

It was earlier in this war, and it could happen any time when my mom was wounded after a close bombing. Remember that next time, her life may end. The same story for me and my brother as relentless bombardment hasn’t stopped since day 1 of the war.

Allow me now to tell you about my days in this war, how they begin and how they end, and about my work as a journalist and as a volunteer activist in humanitarian organizations:

I start my day by meeting the needs of my family for food, and I fill up drinkable water for them. By the way, we call it drinkable, but it is far from the quality of water that should be suitable for human use. Then, I put on my clothes that I strive to keep clean and tidy even in the midst of war.

I start roaming the displacement camps and listen to the stories of the displaced in the tents and feel exactly as they feel because I am just like them and suffer from the same suffering. I collect oral stories about them and take expressive photos of their suffering and tragedies they live through, to present them to the world on my social media pages, and I write articles about their stories for any free person in this free world to read.

When my journalistic work ends, my voluntary work with the Tamer Foundation for Community Education begins. I entertain children by implementing psychological support activities for them, tell them stories, and talk with them to create a safe space for expression that enables them to express everything inside them without fear or hesitation.

In another partner organization with the World Food Program, I assist in distributing food aid to the displaced in shelters and tents and facilitate this process, documenting it by writing reports and stories about it.

At the end of my day, I return to my family before sunset to be able to have whatever food is available. I cannot go out afterwards because of the danger of the situation at night. Targeting, airstrikes, and clashes become intense at night. And this is how my day goes in summary, alongside my constant attempts and efforts to save my family and myself to get out of Gaza safely before we die in vain and we are oppressed. We dream of the life we planned for.

Feeling helpless leaves a huge pain in my heart, and all I just want to see is one big family. Coordination fees to escape at the Egyptian border costs €6,000 per person. Therefore, we’re in need of €20,000 to gather, which is simply unaffordable!

The funds will be sent from Belgium to Egypt to cover the following expenses:

* 20000€ is going to be paid for Ya Hala company for the permit to pass Rafah border, in which every person pays 5000€. 4x5000= 20000€

* ⁠15000€ college fees for my brother and I, in which we will be able to continue our studies in Egypt.

* ⁠5000€ travel costs and residence costs.

* Total = 40000€

This means it will require too much to be together.

Remember that your help will take me to a new life, full of love and away from bombings.

Even though I am mentally sick because of the war, I provide mental help and support activities for children and families with WFP and Tamer Institution.

A day of my life before Oct 7th was literally life. I used to get up in the morning, have my coffee, and prepare myself to go to my university and attend my classes. I was loving my life, enjoying every single moment. Now, I am stuck and unable to do anything.

I loved my life before October 7th. Although I was a university student, I was also a researcher, and I trained teenagers and young adults like me on topics related to democracy, human rights, and the care of women and children. I was also a strong debater and participated in major debates to defend women's rights and many important social topics.

The fact I’m a photojournalist capturing beauty and now misery kills my hope and sickens me. I now queue up for long hours for water and long for a kilo of sugar. It’s so disheartening.

Doing human stories on Gaza, seeing my family in constant fear, and feeling helpless are all reasons why I am mentally exhausted and want to evacuate.

I desperately dream of seeing my family together and reviving my broken life here, so please give me a hand to stand on my feet.

What is happening in Gaza cannot be described in words. We pray every day to survive.

Please help us survive.

For this reason, I am reaching out to all of you.

I am sure that with your generosity we can achieve this. Help us survive

You can rest assured that 100% of all your donations will reach us.

With all love,

If you have any questions you can DM on:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/abod__ismail?igsh=dG40dmNia3QwcGo5&utm_source=qr

Whatsapp: +972599155929

Thank you for your time,