Renewing Hope for Munira & Dr. Hasan's Family from Gaza

"In the heart of Gaza, where dreams once flourished, my brother's family now finds themselves trapped in a nightmare of fear and uncertainty."

My name is Tareq Al Qatrawy, and I’m reaching out to you from Belgium with an urgent plea from the depths of my heart. I am running this campaign for my beloved brother’s family, who are enduring unthinkable suffering in Gaza. Their reality is one of daily struggle, fear, and overwhelming need, and I’m asking for your compassion and support in this time of crisis.

On December 25th, 2023, my brother’s family faced the unthinkable. Forced to flee their home amidst relentless shelling, they found themselves displaced, their lives uprooted, and their dreams shattered. Since then, they have been displaced over five times to ( Rafah, Deer AL Balah, and Nusairat refugee camps), desperately seeking safety in a land ravaged by conflict.

Let me introduce you to the Al Qatrawy family:

My brother’s family consists of six members: Dr. Hassan AL Qatrawy, his wife Munira EL Najar, their daughter Lamis, and their sons Ali, Mohammad, and Abood. They once lived a beautiful, successful life filled with love and achievements. Now, after the devastating war, they have lost so much.

Dr. Hassan AL Qatrawy, 42: A PhD holder in Psychology and a university lecturer at Al-Aqsa University, which was completely destroyed, causing him to lose his job. He is also a renowned novelist, with two novels and numerous works published in prestigious literary magazines worldwide.

Munira EL Najar, A source of strength in Gaza City, Munira was far more than a Master’s student in English. Before the heartbreaking events of October 7, 2023, she was a beloved English teacher, treasured by her students for her unique teaching style and the way she nurtured each of them with care and kindness.

To her students, she was a safe harbor in a sea of uncertainty. Her classroom was a place where they found not only knowledge but comfort and encouragement. Every lesson she gave was filled with her love for them, and her presence reminded them that even in the midst of turmoil, they were never alone.

However, the cruel reality of war has torn Munira's world apart. Her school, once alive with the energy of eager students, now lies in ruins, parts of it turned into shelters for families left homeless by the occupation. What was once a place of hope and learning has been reduced to rubble. Munira now faces the devastating possibility of losing not just her job, but her very sense of purpose. The life she built, the passion she poured into teaching, is slipping away, leaving her to grapple with the painful question of what the future holds.

But Munira's struggles don't end there. She battles hypothyroidism and heart palpitations, conditions exacerbated by the relentless chaos of war. Accessing necessary medications and medical care has become an uphill battle, leaving her vulnerable and in urgent need of support.

Ali, 17: he was a student passionate about mathematics and technology. His dream was to become a computer programmer in the future, and he worked to achieve this goal since his childhood. Because of the war, he lost an entire year of school, and next year he is supposed to finish high school, as there are no schools, univesities or educational institutions for him to complete his education left him with an uncertain future ahead.

Now, Ali who once full of youthful energy and dreams of a bright future, now bears the heavy burden of pain that no child should ever endure. His once vibrant spirit has been dimmed by the relentless ache in his stomach, a constant reminder of the horrors he has faced.

Every day, Ali wakes to the cruel embrace of exhaustion, his body weakened by the relentless assault of illness. His laughter, once a melody of joy, has been silenced by the harsh reality of his condition. He can no longer partake in the simple pleasures of childhood, robbed of the freedom to play and explore like other boys his age.

But it is not just his body that suffers; it is his very essence, his spirit, that bears the scars of war. The yellowing of his face, the appearance of strange blisters and bumps, serve as haunting reminders of the pain he endures with each passing moment.

And now, as if fate itself were not content with his suffering, Ali has been struck down by the merciless grip of hepatitis A. Contracted from unclean water and canned food, this insidious disease has further ravaged his fragile body, leaving him teetering on the brink of despair.

Their daughter Lamis, aged 14, is an adored young girl who enjoys studying, reading, and singing, just like any other girl her age. Before the war, she lived a beautiful life, but now she endures fear, hunger, and the terrifying sounds of bombing. She always dreamed of becoming a dentist in the future. Despite being ready for 8th grade to achieve her dreams, all educational institutions in Gaza have been demolished, depriving her of an education for a year and leaving her future uncertain.

Mohammed, 12: dubbed "Newton" for his prodigious intellect, his brilliance illuminating even the darkest corners of our reality. He is an outstanding and talented student who was always honored in school by his teachers. His dream is to become a surgeon in the future so that he can help the people of Gaza and relieve their pain, but his school was destroyed, as were his dreams.

Abood, our precious 3-year-old boy, embodies the innocence and resilience of childhood. His laughter once filled their home with joy, but now it's overshadowed by the deafening roar of war. With each passing day, he clings to his mother, seeking solace from the terrifying sounds of missiles and bombs that haunt our nights.

But amidst the chaos and fear, Abood still dreams of simple pleasures—of playing freely in the safety of his own home, surrounded by his beloved toys. His eyes light up with hope at the mere mention of an apple, a rare treat that symbolizes a world beyond the confines of their harsh reality.

Yet, the price of that simple pleasure is unimaginable—a staggering $10 for just one apple. It's a cruel reminder of the scarcity that defines our existence, of the hunger that gnaws at their stomachs and the desperation that grips their hearts.

For Abood and his brothers, malnutrition is a harsh reality. They've gone far too long without the nourishment they need to thrive—deprived of milk, fruit, and any semblance of healthy food. Their little bodies bear the scars of hunger, their once-rosy cheeks now pale and hollow with deprivation.

In the face of such hardship, Abood's plea for an apple cuts deep, echoing the longing in all their hearts for a return to normalcy. It's a cry for help—a desperate plea for the kindness and compassion of strangers who can offer a glimmer of hope in their darkest hour.

To make the situation worse, the period of displacement was in winter, and the tent was and is still not safe at all when it rained, so some drops of rain would fall on them and it was not warm at all for the children. When Abood heard the sound of thunder and the sound of rain hitting the tent’s, he would be terrified and would run to his parents and say that it was the sound of bombing! The family also suffers from the lack of a bathroom or even a shower. They can only shower once a month using a bucket due to the lack of water. The water is cold in the winter because there is no electricity or gas to heat the water.

Every morning, Munira washes her children's clothes with cold water and spread the clothes out in the open. If food is found, it is cooked on firewood and it is completely unhealthy and tastes bad because of the firewood.

In the tents, it's hard for them to adjust because they don't have a proper home, they're missing important things like food and medicine, and they're constantly scared of the bombs falling around them. Their life used to be good, with big dreams for the future, but now it feels like a never-ending nightmare where they're just fighting to make it through each day alive.

My brother's family never imagined their lives would be like this. They had a beautiful, quiet life in Gaza with big dreams for their four children, planning for a brilliant future. They both had a steady job and a stable income. There was a house with a roof to shelter them and a warm bed for the children, and all their needs were available, but the war deprived them of that.

The goal of this campaign is to provide them with the support they need to navigate through these challenges and forge a path towards rebuilding their lives.

How the funds will be used:

Adding My Brother's Family to the Allowed-to-Exit Lists: The estimated cost is between $30,000 and $35,000. Exiting from Gaza is unlike other parts of the world. In most places, you just pack your bags, head to the airport or border, and you’re good to go. But in Gaza, it’s a different story. The only way to flee is through the Rafah crossing point with Egypt. However, with the crossing currently closed, we are focusing on the urgent needs of my brother's family and others who are suffering.

Purchasing Essential Supplies: With the Rafah crossing shut, a significant portion of the funds will be dedicated to buying food, water, medicine, hygiene products, and other basic necessities that are desperately needed in these trying times. Prices for vegetables and fruits have skyrocketed, making it even more difficult to provide for families. Water is a precious resource that has become increasingly costly. Additionally, we need to purchase warm clothing for the children, as the cold nights grow harsher, and every child deserves warmth and comfort. For instance, a single outfit for Abood costs around $40 to $50—what about the rest of the kids? The costs add up quickly, and we want to ensure that every child has what they need.

Travel Expenses Through Egypt: When the situation allows for safe passage, we estimate needing $800 to $1,000 for travel expenses. Once the names are added to the allowed-to-exit lists, the family will need around $100 per person to reach Cairo safely.

Read this article on how much Gazan's have to pay!

Covering Living Expenses After Evacuation: We anticipate needing around $15,000 to help the family cover essential life expenses for 6 to 12 months after their evacuation. This support will not only provide for daily needs but will also alleviate the burdens they face during this relentless time of struggle. The remaining funds will be transferred directly to my brother's family through available money transfer services in Egypt (such as Moneygram and Western Union).

To communicate directly with my brother's family, you can follow his wife account on Instagram " munira_elnajar".

https://www.instagram.com/munira_elnajar/

Join Us in Restoring Hope

Thank you for opening your heart to a family in need. Your contribution can provide a lifeline of hope amidst their darkest hours, allowing them to reclaim their dreams and rebuild their lives.

With deepest appreciation,

Tareq AL Qatrawy (representing Dr. Hassan AL Qatrawey and family)