Help Me And My Family Leave Gaza Safely

My heart aches when I see my beloved city, Gaza, which has been bleeding and crumbling since the seventh of October last year. My fear and anxiety surpass the limits of endurance, and after much thoughts and confusion, due to the continuous bombardment and the physical and psychological threats to our safety, my family and I find ourselves in terrible circumstances. The options have narrowed, and conditions have worsened, leading me to make this difficult decision. To leave the city that I love and find safety for my family and I.

Unfortunately, our last resort is a significant payment demanded by the Egyptian government to allow us to escape through the Rafah crossing. This method stands as the final lifeline for survival.

The funds will be allocated accordingly:

(25,000) Evacuation fees for us through the Egypt-Rafah crossing border.

(18,000) Rent and living expenses for us in Egypt for 4 months

My name is Rozyan Abu Hwaila, 27 years old from Gaza City. I earned a Bachelor's degree in nursing and worked in the healthcare field for two years. Recognizing the importance of mental health, especially in my city, I decided to specialize in the field of community mental health. I completed my Master's degree in Community Mental Health last year, during two years of study, training, and work, I conducted many training and awareness workshops about mental health, helping many individuals recover from their psychological traumas and issues, reaching a high level of mental well-being. Recently, following those accomplishments, I got another valuable opportunity to work as a mental health professional in a pioneering project aimed at providing mental health and psychosocial support to teenagers and their families. My enthusiasm for the project was indescribable, seeing it as a chance to positively impact the lives of youth and their families. This project was unique, and I was eager to contribute to providing psychological support to this specific demographic. Suddenly, war came to dismantle everything we built and shatter our dreams.

Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, my family (my 58-year-old father, 51-year-old mother, 25-year-old brother Basel, who recently completed his medical studies in Egypt and couldn’t return due to the war, facing psychological difficulties due to being away from us and the challenges of communication to call us, 23-year-old brother Bashar, who works as a freelance programmer but faces difficulties to continue due to the war's impact on internet availability, and my 16-year-old brother Momen) has been living through an indescribable and harsh reality due to forced displacement for protection from continuous shelling. We moved between relatives' houses amidst ongoing shelling and airstrikes, and with worsening conditions, we were forced to evacuate to Khan Yunis. I cannot forget those challenging moments as we approached the so-called 'safe passage,' where sniper fire became a constant threat, we also had to walk long distances on foot until we reached the inspection point, these hours were filled with fear, anxiety, and emotions beyond description.

We stayed in Khan Yunis for a while and we had to evacuate once again to Rafah, my family and I have been living for two months in a tent near the beach, which unfortunately does not shield us from the intense cold and freezing temperatures. Throughout my stay in southern Gaza, I grappled with a difficult decision: should I leave, abandoning the city I love, my memories and my passion for helping people, or should I stay, holding onto hope for improved conditions despite the omnipresent threat of death? After objectively assessing the situation and attempting to set aside emotions, I found no solace other than the decision to leave the city I love in exchange for saving my life and my family from potential death. War is everywhere, and death is everywhere.

My family does not deserve this. We love life and want to live. Please help me save my life, the lives of my family, and rescue our dreams. My parents, brothers, and I deserve to live away from all this pain, suffering, and fear.

I hope this is the last inhumane experience of brutality, and that no city endures what Gaza has witnessed. I wish to be with my family in a safe area soon.

Please don't hesitate to donate if you can and share with everyone.

Thank you in advance for your time and support.

Rozyan