CANCER Emergency! Evacuate Mohamed's Mom from GAZA

Now, I am in a race against time. With each delay, the situation worsens—a battle against cancer and a merciless war. Any help from you might save my mother and two sisters, trapped in Gaza.

I hope you are well wherever you are. I am Mohamad Al-Masri, a Palestinian from Gaza, currently in Cairo. I recently moved here in pursuit of creating my first film, but I've found myself stuck. I am a director, filmmaker, and architect. I've lived through all the previous wars in Gaza, participating in journalism, photography, and rescue operations. For over a year, I've been trying to recover from the traumatic experiences caused by the wars.

My mother Rania and my sisters Shahd and Farah have been trapped under the threat of death for over 3 months since the start of the war in Gaza. My family faced tough days with the initial bombardments surrounding our home in Khan Yunis. After three weeks, they were forced to leave the area. My mother and sisters, along with relatives, miraculously left our home in Khan Yunis near Bani Suheila as tanks approached our area. They moved to another area near Rafah, into my uncle's house. The latest information about our four-story home east of Khan Yunis indicates that it was destroyed, causing significant damage to the surrounding residential area.

A month and a half ago, conditions worsened in my uncle's small house, where they sought refuge with 200 others. Living in difficult circumstances without food, electricity, and clean water, diseases spread. My mother, suffering from colon cancer, faced the most hardship, needing urgent surgery, scheduled doses of treatment, and proper nutrition due to weakened immunity from chemotherapy. A few days after their relocation a month ago, they experienced intense nearby shelling, putting them in danger once again.

Forced to leave, this time to tents in the Mawasi area west of Khan Yunis near Rafah, they now live in a tent with other relatives, sharing the high cost. In these rainy and cold conditions, they lack nutrition, medication, clean water (if available), and a communication network. In the last 30 days since moving to the tent, I've only managed to talk to them twice, where my sister, Farah, pleaded for help, sharing the struggles of my mother with symptoms and severe pain due to colon issues.

My brave mother, Rania, aged 46, was diagnosed with colon cancer three years ago. In a challenging surgery, over 10 cm of the colon was removed. Over a year, she received chemotherapy in bi-weekly doses. After temporary cessation of doses, she continued regular check-ups to determine the treatment path. Shortly before the war, her treating doctor informed her of the need for another colon operation and the necessity of chemotherapy. However, the war erupted, leaving her with no chance of receiving medical assistance, especially after the destruction of the only hospital treating cancer patients. Without treatment, immunity, and in difficult physical and psychological conditions, she and my sisters are exposed to the constant threat of shelling.

Helplessly, I stand, hearing my mother pleading for me to get them out of there. It's not fear for herself, but concern for my sisters, Shahd (20) and Farah (13). Even in these conditions, her daughters take precedence over her own well-being.

There is a safe and legitimate way for urgent travel through the Rafah border crossing to Egypt, but it requires steep travel fees amounting to $5000 - $10,000 per person—beyond my means entirely.

Therefore, with these indescribable circumstances, I've decided to initiate a fundraising campaign with the help of a friend residing in the Netherlands to gather donations for evacuating my cancer-stricken mother and two sisters, providing them with urgent medical treatment and care.

* *$10,000 for Immediate Support:*

The campaign aims to cover the necessary funds for the required travel fees, ensuring a safe and swift passage through the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt. This is crucial to guarantee that my mother receives the necessary medical assistance she urgently needs. The cost per person is $10,000, totaling $30,000.

* *Transfer Costs from Mawasi (Khan Yunis) to Rafah Crossing, and from the crossing to Cairo: $1,000*

* *Urgent and Essential Medical Tests and Initial Treatment for my Mother: $3,000*

* *Bank Transfer Taxes and Receipt of the Amount in Egypt*

* I am fully aware of the value of the money and effort individuals put into their work or personal lives. I will not personally benefit from the funds collected; they will solely cover the coordination costs for my mom and my sisters' evacuation from Gaza to Egypt and the initial medical examinations.

* The campaign will cover the cost of travel fees to Egypt, transfers, and initial medical tests for my mother. I will personally take care of all other expenses related to accommodation and treatment.

On January 7, 2024, my mother received an urgent medical referral from the Ministry of Health to travel abroad for treatment. However, she is waiting in lists containing tens of thousands of wounded, injured, and sick individuals. This wait could take months, and her condition cannot endure such a delay.

Attached is an image of the official referral.

The only hospital treating cancer patients is the Turkish Friendship Hospital in Gaza, located in a different area. It is inaccessible after the separation of provinces, and even if the war ends, treatment cannot be received there as it has been destroyed and requires years for rehabilitation.

Attached are images of the sole hospital for cancer patients.

I managed to obtain a low-quality copy of some footage showing the destruction that occurred in the residential area where my family's house is located.

below are the medical diagnosis after the surgery conducted in 2021.

The latest short film I directed is titled "Not Just a Number." Don't see my mother and sisters' lives as mere numbers; my mother is a strong woman, a true hero who has navigated a challenging journey filled with hardships and shocks. Despite the loss of my father, she remained kind and loving, shouldering the responsibility of raising me and my siblings alone since our childhood. She is an unwavering fighter, a vibrant soul brimming with dreams and joy for the future. She loves to travel, a dream she has yet to experience, holding onto grand aspirations.

below is my short film

My large family in Gaza is filled with love and warmth, and their loss would be a profound tragedy. I appreciate your efforts and time in reading my plea. I never expected to find myself in this situation. It's difficult to be unable to save my family due to financial constraints, especially as an independent filmmaker searching for a way. I find myself in this challenging situation.

I understand the value of every donation and the effort behind it. I assure you that all funds will be strictly used to evacuate my mother and sisters. I will personally cover any additional incurred expenses.

Your support will make a significant difference in alleviating the suffering of my family and ensuring my mother receives the urgent care she needs. Over time, this translates into saving lives in Gaza.

I am here and ready to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have. Please feel free to reach out to me.

Due to their displacement in tent camps, in an area without communication networks, I am unable to directly contact my family. However, I can communicate with relatives and friends in other areas to check on them. Any updates, contacts, or new information about their well-being are shared on my Instagram account (@massrifilms).

With gratitude,

Mohammad Al-Masri