URGENT: Help Get My Sick Mom & Family Out of Gaza.

‏Dear Humanity,

My name is Rania Abunijaila, a 17-year-old from Gaza City, and l'm reaching out in desperation for the safety of my family and myself.

So let me break it down to you.

My family here consists of my mother Salma (50), my two litle sisters Dalia (14), Shireen (12), and myself. Tragically, my father passed away from cancer a few years ago, leaving us to navigate the hardships of life in Gaza alone. I also have an older brother studying at college in America (He’s not a US citizen nor a green card holder).

Our Demolished House

Our home (apartment) was completely destroyed during night of the first day of the war, leaving us displaced ever since. That day, we have been warned to evacuate at 2 AM and were only given 10 minutes to do so. We fled during the dead of the night leaving all of our belongings and memories behind. We stayed in a small grocery store few meters away from our demolished house until 9 in the morning when we were able to find a car to get us to my great-uncle's house.

Our seven-floor building with 25 apartments in Al Remal Neighborhood of Western Gaza City was completely leveled as the picture shows above, along with our entire residential block few days later, forcing us to endure unimaginable conditions and continuous fear for the past four months.

My Mother’s Illness

Every day we hear the terrifying sound of bombings, and we see the horrible bloody scenes of injured people, and the situation is only getting worse. While l've been hardly trying to steel myself against the dread and terror, it's unbearable to see my family, especially my mother, suffer.

My mother, weakened by illness and in desperate need of surgery, struggles to walk and has been unable to receive medications or treatment since the war began. She was diagnosed with Knee Osteoarthritis and acute knee dislocation. She used to receive physical treatment at the Baptist hospital in Gaza which was bombed and destroyed. She was supposed to undergo a surgery the week the war began. Now we can barely find any painkillers, vitamins or even food supplements to make her feel any better.

Her condition worsens by the day, and the thought of her enduring this agony aches and breaks my heart. I have spent countless days, praying and begging for something to happen. My sweet mother deserves a better healthy life, away from the darkness of conflict.

Educational Background

My mother is a housewife, she was an interpreter and an English Lang and Lit teacher several years ago. My dad was a Psychology University Professor at Al-Azhar University by in Gaza whose two campuses were completely destroyed. My little sisters were studying middle school at a Christian school -Rosary Sisters School in Gaza- that was also bombed, damaged and partially destroyed.

On the other hand, there is me. I'm a senior at The American International School in Gaza which was burned down, its walls now filled with offensive slogans left by soldiers. I was preparing and applying for universities in America before the war, driven by the dream of becoming an aeronautical engineer. I’ve also had the opportunity of experiencing a cultural exchange year through the KL-YES Program and was placed in Iowa, USA two years ago.

This is my school now…

That's me on the upper right in the picture above wearing school uniform and having fun with my friends just few days before war. I was forced to flee, leaving behind crucial documents and essays stored on my laptop.

Life under War in Gaza

Life in Gaza has become a constant struggle for survival. We've faced death multiple times as neighboring buildings were targeted, forcing us to evacuate repeatedly. We've endured scarcity of food, clean water, and basic necessities. Electricity, water, and internet access are luxuries we can no longer have.

We use e-SIMs every once in a while to access internet. Prices have skyrocketed, making even the most basic items unattainable. Cooking gas is scarce, forcing us to cook for hours over open fires (shown above where my sister Shireen is making bread over fire). Transportation is limited to donkey carts, as fuel for vehicles is nearly nonexistent.

The overcrowded conditions in Deir Al Balah Refugee Camp, where we were sleeping in a single room with seven other individuals, among over 20 people in the house, has forced us to take the decision of evacuating back to Al Nusayrat Refugee Camp, making it the tenth time for us to evacuate. We are currently staying in a very dangerous area just few Kilometers away from the war tanks and so close to the warships in the Mediterranean sea.

We have no other place to seek refuge at. Even buying a tent would cost 2400 shekels (around 600 USD) in really miserable bad conditions during this harsh winter without enough warm clothes, blankets, or mattresses.

My younger sisters have fallen ill with severe influenza and stomach diseases just recently, adding to our desperation.

It is estimated that more than 120,000 Gazans are either killed, wounded, kidnapped or missing. Every day that we remain in Gaza is the terrifying reality of us not surviving the next bombing. I've shared our story, pouring my soul into every plea for help, hoping that someone, somewhere out there, hears our desperate cry.

The world can be so distant and harsh, but the love I hold for my mother and sisters fuels a fire within me that won't be put out. I dream of a day where we can leave this place, if only for a while, to get the medicine my mom so desperately in need of. A fundraising campaign might be our only hope.

Purpose of This Campaign

Our only hope for escape lies in crossing the Egyptian-Rafah border, but the journey is fraught with challenges. Egyptian authorities demand exorbitant fees for coordination and passage. We simply cannot afford this on our own.

Your donation will help cover the unfortunately very high fees of evacuating me and my family across the border to Egypt and to help us have modest funds to sustain ourselves as we begin to rebuild our lives. I am transferring the funds through my friend’s mom, Tracey Kraft, in the U.S. to a trusted family friend in Egypt who will pay the Egyptian authorities through Hala Travel Company. This company is responsible for facilitating the transfer of passengers through the Egyptian-Palestinian hall at the Rafah crossing. Payments will be made in person in the company’s office in Nasr City, Cairo to help us cross the border.

Breakdown of Expenses:

• Evacuating Rania and her mother: $10,000 ($5,000 per +16 adult)

• Evacuating Dalia and Shireen: $5,000 ($2,500 per child)

• Four Months Living Expenses in Egypt: $3,500

• GoFundMe Fees: $900

• Bank Transfer Fee: $540

Any surplus funds will be dedicated to supporting children, providing food, and funding medical treatments in Gaza. Your support means more than just financial assistance.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and generosity,