Help my family escape death in Gaza

Hi, my name is Mohammed Altalmas, a Canadian-Palestinian living in Canada. I find myself compelled to seek assistance for a critical and urgent situation that has befallen my family members in Gaza. The harrowing experiences they have endured include witnessing the destruction, death, and hunger of countless families, friends, and neighbors.

My aunt's family, consisting of 27 individuals including my aunt and five cousins (11 adults, 16 kids), has faced a series of heart-wrenching challenges. In 2021, some lost their homes and relocated to Tal-Alhawa, only to have it bombarded in October 2023. Following the intense bombings, they sought refuge in my aunt's house after October 7th, but the relentless attacks forced them to move to south Gaza.

On Friday October 13th, 2023, they were displaced under fire, leaving everything behind. Subsequently, they evacuated to multiple locations, including Nusairat, Dair-albalah, Zawaida, and Almawasi, desperately searching for a safe haven. Unfortunately, their neighborhood in northern Gaza lay in ruins, constantly bombarded, with no permission for anyone to return.

After months of continuous movement and multiple evacuations, they find themselves split between Rafah and Dair-albalah, both areas still under constant threat of bombardment. Deepening their struggles, their family business, specializing in solar panels and elevator installation and maintenance, was left behind in north Gaza and has suffered significant damage. While some family members worked online, the absence of a stable internet connection and a safe working environment resulted in the loss of all their income.

Currently, they face the grim reality of having no homes, no reliable source of food or water, no medicine, no work, and living under the constant threat of fire and bombardments. The entire Gaza Strip is deemed unsafe, making access to food and drinkable water a daily challenge. The absence of proper facilities has left them consuming non-potable water, posing additional health risks.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, my family includes children of all ages, with those under one year old particularly vulnerable due to the scarcity of essential baby needs like formula, medicine, and supplies. Moreover, my aunt requires medication for chronic illnesses, and one of my cousins urgently needs a small operation. However, the destruction of the healthcare system in Gaza has left them without access to essential medical care. The educational landscape has also suffered, with most schools and universities completely destroyed. The children have no schools to attend, and the older ones have no universities to pursue higher education.

In our efforts to rescue them from this terrifying situation, we are working on their evacuation to a safer location while simultaneously pursuing visas to Canada through the recently announced temporary visa program for Canadians with extended family members in conflict zones. This initiative by the Canadian Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, acknowledges the dire situation in Gaza and aims to provide a lifeline to those with Canadian relatives.

However, the path to safety is fraught with financial challenges. The Canadian government does not offer financial assistance for evacuees or their families in Canada, putting the entire financial burden on my family. This includes covering the costs of travel, accommodation during the paperwork process in Cairo, flight tickets for all 27 family members, and initial settlement expenses in Canada, such as rent, furniture, and other living costs.

The people in Gaza have been asked to pay an average $7000 CAD per person, to be allowed out of Gaza. Air tickets $1300 per person, in addition to the expenses needed to stay in Cairo for a few weeks, including (issuing replacement of lost documents from the embassy and waiting for visa application process), which will bring the average cost per person to $10,300 CAD and in total to $278,000 CAD.

My family consists of 27 members:

My Aunt Amal Almadhoun, her Sons’ and Daughters’ families, as follow:

• Salim Almadhoun, his Wife and 4 kids,

• Nathir Almadhoun, his Wife and 2 kids,

• Eman Almadhoun, her Husband and 5 kids,

• Ahmad Almadhoun, his wife and 2 kids,

• Reem Almadhoun, her Husband and 3 kids.

The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. Time is of the essence, and every moment without intervention carries the risk of further bloodshed and loss of lives. Communication with my family is severely disrupted due to telecommunication issues, intensifying our concerns about their well-being.

Your willingness to hear about my family's plight is deeply appreciated. The actual situation is even more challenging than words can convey, and the voices of Palestinians often struggle to be heard, making it difficult to raise awareness and garner support.

In this critical moment, on behalf of my family, I earnestly implore the kindness of all compassionate individuals. Your support can be the beacon of hope that guides my family from the world's most dangerous place towards a new and secure life.

Thank you for your unwavering support and understanding during this trying time. Your contribution not only means a new life for my family but also signifies compassion and solidarity for justice and the preservation of human lives.