Help me evacuate my injured sisters from Gaza
Donation protected
Time is of the essence, any day delayed means their injuries get severe or worse. Any amount can help save the lives of my two sisters who survived direct attacks!
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Amelie Azmy, a 24-year-old Palestinian-Algerian. While I currently live in Egypt, all my family members reside in Gaza. I am a graphic designer and writer who has lived through the various wars and escalations in Gaza. Just as I was starting to recover from the PTSD of the previous conflicts, the recent war brought catastrophe and destruction. I find myself compelled to seek your urgent assistance.
As the war on Gaza began after October 7th, my whole family members had to relocate from the north (Beit Lahia) to the south (Al-Nuseirat),where my parents' house is. The house quickly became overcrowded with displaced family members seeking refuge, and with the disruption of communication, access to food, water, electricity, and basic necessities became scarce.
I reached out to the Algerian embassy in Egypt, appealing for the evacuation of my family, given their half-Algerian status. However, 60 days have passed since the atrocities began, and no Algerian has been evacuated yet. Despite the success of other Arab countries in evacuating their citizens, my family remains stranded.
On December 7th, the occupation forces bombed the house adjacent to my family's home in Al-Nuseirat. The impact was severe, causing significant damage to our home. Tragically, my kind-hearted uncle, Dr. Nehru Abdul-Ati, and his daughter Joud, who we had been anticipating for 15 years, lost their lives. My beloved grandmother Khadija Abdul-Ati, my other grandmother Amina, and my autistic aunt Nahal also perished.
Furthermore, my younger twin sisters, Asil and Areej (16 years old), and my older sister Heba (26 years old), were trapped under the rubble for half an hour. As a result, Areej suffered spinal and pelvic injuries, leaving her unable to move. The continuous bombardment and the ongoing genocide pose a significant threat to her well-being. What pains me even more is that due to the lack of medications in Gaza, my injured sisters are enduring excruciating pain without any pain relievers.
Some of my family members sought refuge in the southernmost part of Gaza (Rafah) in tents. However, my parents, brothers, and my injured sisters have no alternative place to stay, forced to remain in the damaged house with only a fraction deemed humanly habitable.
It deeply distresses me that my three sisters, Asil, Areej, and Heba, are suffering so much. The only way to help them is to leave Gaza to receive the necessary medical care and attention abroad. Areej's spinal injuries and my sister's injury require urgent medical intervention that is unavailable in Gaza.
Despite my relentless efforts to reach the Algerian embassy through various channels, all in vain. Yet, there exists a secure and legitimate avenue for urgent travel through the Rafah border crossing to Egypt, requiring a hefty $10,000 travel fee per individual. As an empowered and financially independent woman, this sum is utterly beyond my means. Hence, I am compelled to urgently launch this campaign.
In light of these circumstances, I have decided to launch a fundraising campaign with the help of a friend in London to collect donations to evacuate my three injured sisters for medical treatment and care
- $10,000 for Immediate Support: The campaign aims to cover the necessary funds to cover the travel fees required for a safe and prompt passage through the Rafah Crossing from Gaza to Egypt, to make sure my sisters receive the necessary medical assistance they need as soon as possible, where the cost per person amounts to 10 thousand dollars, with a total of 30 thousand dollars.
- I am fully aware of the value of money and the effort one puts into their work or personal life. Therefore, I have prioritized the evacuation of my injured sisters only, even though I deeply desire to evacuate the entire family. I will not personally benefit from the funds raised; they will solely cover the coordination costs to Egypt, with the Algerian embassy in Egypt taking responsibility for the medical treatment of my sisters.
- The additional $500 is required for transfer taxes from my friend's account in London (Diala Maki) to Egypt.
- The campaign will cover the cost of the travel fees to Egypt, while I personally will take care of all other expenses related to accommodation and food.
- If the Algerian embassy manages to evacuate my family members from Gaza before paying the coordination fee for their exit through the Rafah crossing to Egypt, and in the unfortunate event that any difficulties prevent me from evacuating my sisters who are in need, I openly commit to donating the campaign amount for young girls like my sisters to cover their coordination or medical expenses.
- It seems that I might have to incur additional costs for the ambulance that will transport my sisters from Al-Nusairat to Rafah, where the crossing to Egypt is located. This will require me to contribute an extra amount to the campaign to ensure the total cost. Once I confirm the amount, I will add it to the campaign.
Due to the recent bombing in the area, there is no communication network to connect with my family. However, I managed to communicate with a friend 15 minutes away from my family. She delivered my voice messages, some pictures, and emotional support to them. She also took photos of our damaged home, which I will provide when received on my Instagram account (@amelieazmy).
Do not view the lives of my sisters as more numbers; Asil, Areej, and Heba are filled with love and hope. I raised them with care, and each of them had dreams and aspirations. Asil dreamed of becoming a writer and shared her thoughts and writings during the war whenever communication allowed. Areej, despite her broken pelvis, aspired to be an artist, and Heba was set to marry her fiancé next year.
These three, fueled by determination and resilience, share a deep passion for football, ardently cheering for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose spirit serves as their muse.
My large Gaza family is filled with love and warmth, and losing them is a tremendous loss. I appreciate your efforts and time in reading my plea. I never expected to find myself in this situation. It is incredibly challenging to navigate these circumstances as an independent woman proud of her financial independence, finding herself in this dire situation.
I understand the value of every donation and the effort behind it. I assure you that all funds will be strictly used for the evacuation of my sisters. I will personally bear any additional expenses incurred.
Your support will make a significant difference in alleviating the suffering of my family and ensuring that my sisters receive the care they urgently need. As time ticking away translates to lives lost in Gaza
I'm here and ready to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Don't hesitate to reach out and connect with me
With gratitude
Amelie Azmy
Organizer and beneficiary
Ameile Azmy
Organizer
England
Diala Makki
Beneficiary