Help A Family of 5 Survive Gaza War & Reunite with Dad

February 2024 - Letter from Anas (father) *more updates below

Dear world,

My name is Anas and I am from Gaza City, Palestine with my wife Yasmine and our three children.

Following the outbreak of war, the Israeli occupation army issued an urgent evacuation order for Gaza City due to the continuous and violent bombing. We fled to Khan Yunis, leaving all our possessions behind in a desperate attempt to survive. However, our ordeal continued when Israeli forces again forced us to move, this time to Rafah city. The invasion of Khan Yunis exacerbated our suffering, and the anxiety, fear and tears in our children's eyes were particularly painful. My daughter, Julia, has a chronic allergy to milk and lactose, which adds to our suffering. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide even basic necessities such as clean water.

We currently find ourselves displaced, living in a tent in Rafah. The constant bombing of the city terrifies our children, and the lack of food, clean water and medicine further exacerbates our plight.

I appeal to you to provide support to my family, so that we can survive this war and evacuate to Egypt. Julia is in urgent need of medical and specialized care, and we hope to provide her with everything necessary for her safety.

This is my beloved family you will be helping:

My mother: Sawsan, 58 years old

Me: Anas, 36 years old

My wife: Yasmine, 33 years old

My sister: Lina, 31 years old

My brother: Khaled, 26 years old

My sister-in-law: Sarah, 22 years old

My son: Abd Alrahman, 13 years old

My son: Yazan 10 years

My daughter: Julia, 3 years old

My nephew: Karam, 2.5 years old

How funds will be used:

Oct '23 - Feb '24

Loans Oct ’23 - Feb ’24 Living Expenses

These are loans to be repaid from before the GoFundMe campaign was created:

- Food and drink ($1,000/mo * 3 families * 5 months) = $15,000

- Rent (500/mo * 3 families * 5 months) = $7,500

- Medication & tests for my mother (high blood pressure, diabetes, ‘sarcoidosis’ breathing problem): $2000

- Medication for Julia’s immune-deficiency and food-allergy = $1,500

(26,000)

Travel Permits

- 7,000/person x 10 people = 70,000 - $20,000 GIFT = $50,000

(50,000)

Living Expenses - March ’24 - April ’24

- Food and drink ($1,000/mo * 3 families * 2 months) = $6,000

- Rent (500/mo * 3 families * 2 months) = $3,000

- Medication for Julia’s immune-deficiency and food-allergy = $1500

(10,500)

October - April TOTAL: $86,500

My primary goal in creating this fundraising campaign is to raise the exorbitant amounts requested by the Egyptian authorities. Rafah crossing fees start from $5,000 to $7,000 per person. But in addition to the evacuation plan, this fundraiser will help me treat my daughter Julia and mother's health concerns.

Thank you for your compassion and help during these difficult times.

Anas family

*** CAMPAIGN UPDATE 6/2/24***

When we set up this campaign, we were only looking a couple of months ahead. Since then, everyone in this campaign has traveled to Egypt except for Anas who was set to travel the week Israel seized the border crossing. Anas' intention was to be humble and not over-ask, so he sold his car and has been taking out loans for expenses like his mother's medical care (she required surgery once crossing into Egypt) and his children's school tuition, as they've tried to continue their grade school. Anas still needs to pay rent and for food for himself and his family despite being unable to work. The stress between looming loans, bombing and displacement (most recently from Rafah to Dier al Balah) has been crippling, and Anas' blood pressure has become dangerously high. So we are updating the campaign budget to include these costs and are adding a cushion for rebuilding once the border is open and he is evacuated safely.

April 23, 2024 to June 23, 2024 - (Added to campaign 6/2/24)

1 - Paying school fees for the children (Yazan and Abdul Rahman) for the past year was $3,650.

2 - Registration for the new year for boys’ schools with the addition of Julia (schools in Egypt) is $5,500

3 - Anas’ house rent in Gaza is $800 * two months = $1,600

4- Renting a house for Yasmine and the children, including food and drink, in Egypt for two months: $1,500 * 2 = $3,000

5 - House rent, food and drinks for my mother and Lina’s family for two months: $1,500 * 2 = $3,000

6 - Food and drink for Anas in Gaza for two months: $3,000 * 2 = $6,000 (expensive due to inflation from minimal aid entry and closed borders)

7 - Loans owed by Anas during the war amount to $6,450

8 - Rebuilding the Anas' family’s life for the next year (5,000 * 12) = $60,000

April - June Subtotal: $89,200

TOTAL: $175,700

Thank you,

Caroline

----------- Family pictures and videos---------------

BBC News Article - VIEW HERE

Celebrating Julia's 3rd birthday December '23 during the war

Abdul Rahman interview in Khan Yunis

Here is Anas' older son Abdul Rahman in an interview clip intended for an Irish news channel. At this point Anas' family is sheltering in a house in Khan Yunis with 90 people. Abdul is next to his cousins, who finally were granted evacuation to Turkey as dual citizens on day 51 of the genocide.

Abd Alrahman's cousin was interviewed in same sitting and posted on @newschambers Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CytCzYsMF6j/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA

Below is a BBC news article about cousins Jana and Farah while they were all sheltering in the Khan Yunis home with 90 people.

BBC news article about Anas' nieces while he and his brother's families sheltered together in Khan Yunis.

Julia at the beach on the second day of the humanitarian truce.

Abd Alrahman update 3/7/24

*Note from the campaign manager February 2024*

Hi all, my name is Caroline. I live in California and in my advocacy connected with a wonderful Gaza family struggling to evacuate due to the exorbitant costs required by Egypt.

Anas is a 36 year-old from the center of Gaza City in an area called Al-Rimal, a husband to Yasmine, and father of 3 children. He is a part-Owner and Accountant for his cherished family business of over 30 years. In a shocking matter of days, he went from being a business and home owner to enduring 5 displacements since October '23, constant danger and difficulty feeding his family. His youngest, Julia, has a serious allergy and has been suffering from reactions to the little food available. His mother suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes, and has a breathing problem called sarcoidosis. His family is now displaced in Rafah and are surviving in a tent.

I connected with Anas' story because he his my sister's age at 36, and I'm simply doing what I would want someone to do for me and my family. After fostering trust through conversation, calls, personal identification, Palestinian-American friend's assistance, and digital vetting, I offered to sponsor their GoFundMe as it requires a bank outside of Gaza. Anas will explain more specifics, but in a nutshell, we are evacuating 4 children, 6 adults, each at about 5K-7K travel permit costs thru Hala Consulting and Tourism in Cairo. Yes, they are really charging that much; it's awful. This campaign also covers shelter and food in Egypt as well as treatment for Julia.

Money is transferred from my bank account to family in Egypt to coordinate and pay for the travel permits.

Thank you for your crucial assistance. Free Palestine!