Help Evacuate My Family from Gaza to Safety

Hi everyone,

I am Bilal, 22 years old, from Gaza, Palestine. I am reaching out to you during these trying times to seek help evacuating my family who have been living their worst nightmare since the beginning of the war .

I have been living in Germany for 7 months now. Life has not been easy on me here as I have been struggling to make ends meet and adjust to new responsibilities. I made the difficult choice to leave my home because of the instability in the region, unfair restrictions, and constant blockades that have crippled my beloved city for years. All I wanted was to build a decent life for myself and my family. Unfortunately, my hopes and dreams were mercilessly crushed by war and injustice. Yet, the pain I am experiencing pales in comparison to the hardships my family members have been enduring War that have made life in Gaza an everyday struggle for survival.

My family consists of my mother, my father, my five brothers, and two sisters as well as my sister-in-law and my brother-in-law. My oldest sister already has two lovely daughters respectively aged 7 and 2; and she has only recently given birth to a beautiful baby boy who is now only a few weeks old. My elder brother and his wife, who have been raising two sweet little boys (ages 3 and 1), have also just had two adorable twin girls. The babies make us feel blessed but, at the same time, fearful for their safety and well-being under the current perilous circumstances.

We had just finished building our new house in Northern Gaza when the war broke out and destroyed everything we had including my father's shoe business, which was our family's only source of income. Now, we have to start from scratch again _something we have been forced to do every few years_ but the damage caused this time is unprecedented and almost impossible to repair.

Trying to escape war, my family first fled to Khan Younis where they stayed at the Al Helal hospital there. Sadly, the hospital was also bombed and the city was not as safe as they were told it would be. Consequently, they were displaced again. They are now living in a tent in a refugee camp in Rafah city where basic amenities are denied to them. They have to strive and risk their lives every day to provide the bare minimum of food and water for everyone, and even that is not always available. Due to the siege imposed on Gaza the markets are almost entirely empty, prices are rocketing, and little to no humanitarian aid is allowed to enter the strip.

In addition to food and water scarcity, the healthcare system in Rafah, has almost entirely collapsed. As a result, my family’s health, already at risk due to malnutrition, poor hygiene, little access to sanitation and the harsh weather conditions in the tent, is now also in serious peril because of the shortage of medicines and medical care. The three newborns face the same threats, if not greater ones; as baby essentials including formula are barely available. Moreover, the only medical assistance they and their mothers have access to is that of an overcrowded maternity clinic or a field hospital with limited capabilities and equipment.

My family remained resilient throughout the cruellest conditions but now their very survival is more than ever at stake; as Rafah, formerly described as a “safe zone”, is presently being indiscriminately and more aggressively bombed. Furthermore, The Israeli authorities has repeatedly stated that a ground invasion of the city is being planned to take place at the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. Consequently, even the overpopulated and disease-ridden last refuge my family has is now threatened with total annihilation.

With no ceasefire in sight, I am embarking on an endeavour to rescue my family from the War. As you well know, the only way out of Gaza under the current situation is through the Egyptian border with Rafah. I have been doing everything within my power to provide my family with what they need but the evacuation costs have proven to be a challenge. That is why, I am humbly asking for your help in raising the necessary funds to get my loved ones to safety.

We are a family of 18 people, including 10 adults and 8 children under 16 years old.

To ensure safe passage for each member:

- €50,000 ( €5,000 per person over 16 x 10 ) .

- €20,000 ( €2,500 per person under 16 x 8 ) .

Total current fees for coordination: 70,000 €

Other Expenses :

To carry out the evacuation and ensure that my family’s basic needs are met, we need to cover the following expenses :

€4400 : Fees for GoFundMe

€8,000 : Money transfer fees to Gaza, as the lack of cash requires a high transfer commission of up to 30%

€17,600 : daily living costs during the waiting period before the crossing opens, including purchasing a new winter tent, clothes for the children, and providing basic needs

€10,000 : Basic living expenses, house rent, and other expenses in Egypt for 6 months

Total amount = 110,000 euros

Words fail to describe the pain and loss my family has been through as their future remains uncertain and the atrocities of the war continue to lay waste to everything they held dear. It is not just about bricks and walls that were turned into rubble. Their most precious memories as well as the warmth and simplicity they used to cherish in their home were reduced to ruins and smoke in the blink of an eye.

The thought of losing my loved ones haunts me now more than ever. However, I believe every donation, no matter how small, can make a difference and help me alleviate my family's suffering by offering them a new chance at life and restoring the hopes and dreams they have been forced to forsake. I would be sincerely grateful for any kind of support whether through donations or simply sharing the link to this fundraiser with friends and family and as widely as you could within your social networks.

Despite the brutality of the war, I still trust in the humanity of those pure of heart to help my family get through the hardest times of their lives. As they continue to be trapped in the harshest and most life-threatening situation, your generosity and support are their only hope.

Every contribution is a step closer towards achieving some sense of normalcy and stability my family desperately longs for and deserves.

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