Help Esraa, Wissam & baby Mila flee Gaza

Help Esraa, Wissam & baby Mila flee Gaza

‏[العربية أدناه]

Hello world!

Please help this young, traumatised family escape the genocide in Gaza before it's too late.

With the imminent invasion of Rafah, everyone is at risk. Esraa and Wissam have made the difficult decision to put their name on the list to leave Gaza and head for Cairo, Egypt. They're doing this not only for their sake, but for the futures of both their families.

WHO ARE WISSAM AND ESRAA?

Both Wissam and Esraa have degrees, speak English fluently and are highly employable as professionals outside of Gaza. 24 years old, they are both graduates with software engineering degrees. Esraa also has a BA in Accountancy. By helping this young family escape to Cairo and make a fresh start you will be providing hope and practical assistance not only for them, but for both their families.

Here they are in happier times. Mila turned 2 just before the genocide began.

Esraa comes from a family of software engineers while Wissam's family features many pharmacists. Esraa's family are still in their home in West Gaza. (Various members are unable to make the long journey south to Rafaa.) Those of Wissam's family who could make the journey fled to Rafah with nothing except the clothes on their back. Once evacuated, Esraa and Wissam will be in a position to resume their professional careers and help the rest of their family.

Entire bloodlines have already been erased throughout Palestine since the beginning of the genocide. Wissam and Esraa have each lost multiple members of their family and fear losing more as the IDF threatens to intensify their attacks.

Like most Palestinians, they have made terrifying journeys and experienced unspeakable horrors. Esraa is terrified for the health and safety of her little daughter, but also for her husband. At every checkpoint, there is a chance he will be taken by the IDF under false pretences. (Wissam's uncle was taken at one such checkpoint and has not been heard of since.)

WHY CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CAUSE?

I am certain that any contribution you can make to help this young family flee the genocide is an investment that will pay multiple dividends. How do I know this? One of the organisers (a doctor) of an emergency initiative operating within Gaza ('911 Gaza Helpline') reached out to me and asked me to set up this GoFundMe page. (For more info on this initiative, visit @911GazaHelpline on Twitter/X.)

The organiser told me this young, resourceful couple arrived in Rafah with nothing. After receiving food and warm clothing for baby Mila, they sprang into action, working tirelessly to help others in the following ways:

By helping Wissam and Esraa, you will provide hope—not only for them, but for both their families. They have friends in Cairo who will help them find their feet and decide the best next steps.

(The Giza Pyramids lie on the outskirts of Cairo. An easy way to remember the url of this fundraiser when you want to share or revisit is 'from-gaza-to-giza'. Just prefix with gofundme.com/f/

Wissam also has an uncle in Turkey—another option to explore. But to do that, they must first escape the concentration camp that Gaza has become.

When this horror is over, Palestine will need smart young professionals like Wissam and Esraa to help rebuild it. It will also need people who understand, first-hand, what is needed—natives who can act as a bridge with the outside world and accelerate development. Esraa and Wissam are two such people.

LOGISTICS

To leave Gaza, the family's names have to be entered on an exit list and make arrangements with the Egyptian state-owned travel company 'Ya Hala' for safe passage from Gaza to Egypt. Ya Hala has branches in both Gaza and Egypt.

The fee for this transfer is rising almost weekly. $24,500, minus GoFundMe fees, will allow this young family to arrive safely in Cairo and provide the means to regain their independence. Their evacuation plan is organised by the Egyptian state agency ‘Ya Hala’. It’a system many others have used to leave Gaza.

WHAT'S THE MONEY FOR?

1. The fees for refugees wishing to travel from Rafah to Cairo are currently:

$5,000 per adult

$2,500 per child

TOTAL: $12,500

Unfortunately, Esraa and Wissam have been told that these tickets will not result in an exit date earlier than one month. The serious threat of an IDF ground invasion after Eid (April 9th) has made them make the difficult decision to pay for an expedited ticket—assuming they raise enough funds in time. The expedited family ticket costs $25,000 and guarantees that they will be evacuated within 72 hours. Money talks. :(

***** To be evacuated by April 9th, donations must reach $30,000 by April 5th. *****

(In addition to the $25,000 ticket price, they will need money to pay for accommodation, food and clothes when they reach Cairo. They are leaving Gaza with nothing except the clothes on their backs.)

2. In addition, GoFundMe charges 3% of every donation, plus a transaction fee (0.25 pence per transaction—approx 0.32 cents). I have not factored this into the actual goal but it will equate to approximately $1,000. (Most of this fee covers the cost that Swipe charges for processing your donations.)

Including fees, and assuming donations come in quickly, Esraa and Wissam need $23,500 to set up base in Egypt while they figure out their next moves and resume their professional careers online.

Funds raised are sent to Wissam’s uncle, who will travel to Cairo to pay for the evacuation passes. (A blood relative is required to do this.)

PLEASE NOTE: GOFUNDME PROTECTS DONORS. If any fraud is detected on a fundraiser, your donation is returned to you.

3. Both Wissam and Esraa are both able to work online as freelancers immediately. (Esraa already has an account on Upwork from before and has outstanding reviews.)

High-spec laptops are the tools of their trade. Once in Cairo, they will both need a refurbished laptop that has the required functionality. These will allow them to begin to consult once again and regain financial autonomy. An amount of $3,000 has been set aside for a single refurbished laptop that has the firepower they need to work with online clients. This will allow both Esraa and Wissam to work from home in shifts and take care of little Mila.

4. The final sum of $5,000 allows Esraa and Wissam to survive for two months until they receive their first pay cheques. They need to find cheap accommodation - a safe place for Mila where they can work online from home and recover from their ordeal.

I believe strongly in helping people to fish for themselves, which is why I have created this fundraiser. These are proud, hard-working young people unaccustomed to receiving handouts. The ripple effects of your contributions will go a long, long way to making their entire extended family self-sufficient again.

WHO AM I?

If you are wondering who I am, this is my business website: caitlinmiller. I am an executive coach by profession and a humanitarian by nature. You can also check out my profile on LinkedIn to verify my identity: LinkedIn. My handle on Twitter/X is @CaitlinScotland.

FYI, Esraa is also on X/Twitter and this is her handle: @EsraaSalah37. ANY OTHER HANDLE ON X IS A FAKE.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

The urgency of this situation cannot be underestimated. There is no 'safe place' in Gaza and anyone can be murdered at any time. Children are already dying from malnutrition and disease; men, women and children are sniped for sport; and entire families have been obliterated from the face of the earth.

If, like me, you feel ill from watching war crime after war crime being perpetrated upon innocent civilians and need to do something positive for the sake of your sanity, please join me in giving Esraa, Wissam and baby Mila the precious gift of life.

If aren't able to donate, an equally valuable gift would be some time and energy spent sharing this GoFundMe to make this miracle happen. Thank you so much for your kindness. You have literally given this couple and their child a future when all hope had gone.

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‏ ساعدوا إسراء ووسام والطفلة ميلا على النجاة من حرب غزة