Rebuilding Hope For Haifa And Her Family And Saving Them

Hello, I am Haifa Al-Borai, a 21-year-old from the heart of the Gaza Strip. I am reaching out to you with a heavy heart on behalf of my family, the Al-Borai family, which consists of 8 members, including 2 children. We are trapped in the devastating situation in Gaza and urgently seeking evacuation to Egypt after enduring more than 274 days of displacement and hardship. We have realized that waiting is no longer an option.

The conflict in Gaza has left us in desperate need of help. This war has taken our beautiful house, my friends, and my university is in ruins. All the places and streets where I once spent peaceful moments are now destroyed. All I have left is my family, and I am terrified of losing them. I will do everything in my power to keep them safe.

See as we were a happy

I never imagined we would be caught in the crossfire of a conflict we had no part in. For 13 years, we painstakingly built our home together, stone by stone, as a family. Two years ago, we lost our father to cancer (he was a hardworking employee at the Palestinian Telecommunications Company), leaving us under the care of our mother who is not working. We promised to honor my fathers’ memory and continue his path, preserving his belongings—his clothes, books, and glasses—within our home.

Now, our home has been burned and our memories reduced to ashes. We are left with nothing but heartache.

My 48-year-old mother faces the harsh reality of conflict as the sole provider and protector for our family, without any man to help during these tragic moments. After my father's death, she began giving private lessons to students to ensure we could afford a decent living and attend school and university.

She is always worried about us, as we are all females and children. The trauma inflicted on our family tears at her heart, and she is constantly haunted by fears for our safety and well-being. She suffers from nightmares where she loses us, waking up in tears and praying that if one of us must die, the whole family dies together so no one is left heartbroken and alone.

To give you a glimpse into our daily struggle, we wake up each day to a relentless battle for survival after enduring deadly nights. For over 274 days, we have been cooking on firewood due to the scarcity of cooking gas. My 13-year-old brother, Ezzat, is responsible for securing water. He walks long distances and waits for hours in line, then struggles to carry the heavy water back home.

The entire region lacks fuel for cars, making transportation nearly impossible. Basic necessities, including medicines, are scarce, even for those who can afford them. Due to the lack of clean water and proper hygiene, three of us contracted hepatitis for several weeks, but thankfully, we have recovered. Limited humanitarian aid has barely reached the border area, leaving the southern region, where we currently reside, in desperate need.

We are six sisters and one brother, all still pursuing our education. We rely solely on our mother, who recently lost her job as a teacher in the private sector. We have been displaced five times, leaving northern Gaza and moving from Nuseirat to Deir al-Balah, then to a tent in Rafah, and now we live in a tent by the sea in the city of Khan Yunis.

**Ghada Essa** - My mother, 48 years old, currently unemployed (used to work as a tutor before the war).

**Sham Al Borai** , 7 years old, in the second grade of elementary school. She loves painting and reading stories.

**Ezzat Al Borai** - 13 years old, in the seventh grade. He is obsessed with taking care of animals.

**Ruba Al Borai** - 16 years old, in the tenth grade. Ruba is the fashionista among us. She loves to take care of herself, dreams of becoming a dentist, and excels at table tennis.

**Lubna Al Borai** - 18 years old, graduated from high school with excellent grades last year 98.7% and was planning to start university international trade studies this year. Lubna is incredibly smart and also plays table tennis very well.

**Nada Al Borai** - 20 years old, a third-year university student in Mechatronics Engineering. Nada is the nerd among us; if you lose her, you'll find her buried in her books.

**Haifa Al Borai** (myself) - 21 years old, a fourth-year university student in Software Engineering. I dream of pursuing a master's degree and working for a major Software Engineering company. I am a bookworm, though my bookshelf was burned with our house. I love sports, yoga, and painting.

**Afnan Al Borai** - 23 years old, graduated from university with a degree in English Literature. Afnan loves to paint and is the kind sister who always takes care of us and checks up on us constantly.

**Ghina Abu Amouna** - My six-month-old niece, born during the war, daughter of Afnan.

We are a normal family with simple dreams, but now, in this war, survival itself has become a miracle, making all our dreams seem far away.

To save us from this misery, we need to raise $39,200. This amount includes $5,000 per person for each of the eight members of my family to cover the fees for crossing the border from Gaza to Egypt. Additionally, we need to account for the 12% tax on the collected amount in the USA, which totals $4,200.

I believe we are all brothers and sisters in humanity. This moment tests our patience and compassion. I have faith that there are many good people in this unjust world who will help us survive this war and start anew, allowing us to pursue education and support one another.

A donation of even $5 can make a significant difference for us. I don't want to lose my family; you are our only hope. I don't want to see my mother's heart break over any one of us. She lives in constant fear, trying to protect her daughters and son every single minute.

Your generosity will directly help save us from death and rebuild our lives. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a profound impact.

☮️ Lend your hand and make a meaningful impact for us because we need you.

☮️ **Donate on GoFundMe** ⩥ Every contribution, whether large or small, will help save our lives and allow us to escape Gaza to a safer country.

☮️ **Share This Post and Spread the Word** ⩥ Please share this campaign with your friends, family, and colleagues to help us achieve our goal. Your support means the world to us, and I am deeply grateful for any help you can provide during this difficult time.

For the sake of transparency, my friend Dania H. is managing the fundraising using her social media platforms with the help of her friend Khaled H., who helped us open the link and bank account for the campaign in the USA. The money will be transferred from the USA to Egypt after paying a 12% tax in the USA. The remaining amount will be dedicated to our travel expenses from Gaza to Egypt once the Rafah crossing opens. Dania will receive the money in Egypt and pay it to the entity responsible for arranging our escape from Gaza to Egypt (Tanseeq - Hala )

I know the borders are currently closed and we are imprisoned in this hell, but please help us collect the money so we will be ready to flee once the truce is established and the border opens.

Your help means everything to us. For more details or questions, please contact us freely. Your kindness is a beacon of hope for us. Thank you for your support, and we hope for better days to come.