Hope for Escape: Supporting My Family in Gaza

Hi, my name is Rand Abu El Haj and I'm fundraising to get my family, who are trapped in Gaza to safety across the border.

Stuck trapped in a war-torn land where hope dims with each passing day.

Family members affected:

Father: Khalid Abu El Haj (47)

Mother: Maram Abu El Haj (45)

Salwa Abu El Haj 20

Mena Abu El Haj 18

Abeer Abu El Haj 16

Jana Abu El Haj 11

Adel Abu Ell Haj 12

Amaar Abu El haj 8

Salwa is in her third year of university, where she was studying Business Administration at the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) which has since been destroyed on 11th October, their house has been destroyed and they have had to move about 10 times since the war on Gaza started. Salwa is an academic, who scored 97.7% in high school, the second-best in her grade.

Mena was in her first year of University where she was to study medicine, in her first week of university, the war started. Mena’s university, Al-Azhar University Gaza (AUG) has also been bombed in the war and is no longer standing.

Abeer is supposed to be in her final year of high school with hopes of going to university after. No more schools are standing in Gaza making it nearly impossible for Abeer and her siblings Jana, Adel, and Amaar to continue their high school education.

“We don’t know when this war is going to end. From what we see now, it seems like there is no end date. The health situation is incredibly bad, if one member of the family gets sick we will all get sick as we’re all staying in one room and there's no medicine available.” - Salwa

Everything is gone, Salwa stresses that the university fees that she and her sister Mena have paid for the year have now gone to waste as both their universities have been demolished.

My family is highly ambitious, with hopes and dreams of a brighter future.

Mena's words

I'm Mena an 18-year-old from Gaza. I'm a medical student in my first year of University. Being able to study medicine was a dream of mine which I did everything I could to achieve, and I did, but in my first week at University, the War on Gaza started. And under the war, everything was destroyed, my dreams, my home, my education, my health, my University, and my life.

I'm just a civilian I love life and am full of passion I just want to complete my educational career and follow my dreams. I missed out on my first year of university and I don't want to miss out on any more.

Now, I'm without a home, my home was completely destroyed and I've been displaced about 10 times. every time leaving behind all my favorite things as tears fill my eyes. Every time we moved, we had to start from scratch over and over again.

We went back 50 years in time. Using firewood to cook our food, to heat water for our showers, and to bake bread. Most of the time I am responsible for lighting the fire; because my brothers are young and there is no one else available to do this.

Recently I started having chest pains and I also have a permanent cough, from constantly inhaling smoke and of course, don't forget the burns that come with fire.

“I faced death in every second because of the war, and I also faced death because I'm unable to do anything. I see my future wasting in front of my eyes but I am very helpless.” - Mena

Help my family escape to safety, complete their education, and save their lives from the constant threat of death.

This family is tired of losing their favourite things in life, so with whatever amount you can donate, be aware that you’ve contributed to saving several lives, rebuilding a dream, and supporting an ambitious girl who fought hard to achieve her dream, to help her dear city, Gaza.

Your contributions, no matter the amount, will make a significant impact and will help fund the following:

How the funds will be used:

Rafah border crossing: 8 people * $5,000 = $40,000

GoFundMe fees: 40,000 * 2.9% = $ 1,160

“I chose GoFundMe because I am sure that it's the most appropriate place for my request, I hope I don't return disappointed. Thanks in advance, God save you always.

” - Mena

“We never expected, even on our worst days, that we’d live days like these. And we’re not sure of what to do now or how to handle this situation, it's like all doors have closed in our faces, this is our last resort.” - Salwa