Bringing Hope to Shahd and Her Newborn

Dear Friends and Supporters,

When I started this fundraiser in January 2024, my dear friend Mohammed Almzainy and his wife Shahd were expecting their first child. Since then, their darling baby girl has been born and, thanks to the help of generous donors from around the world, is healthy and doing well. During the brief ceasefire, she was able to receive her first polio vaccine. (She will need 2 more in the coming months to be fully immunized.)

Mohammed and Shahd were in the midst of earning their master’s degrees when the events of last October interrupted their studies and destroyed their home. Over the past year, they’ve been forced to relocate at least half a dozen times as home after home has become uninhabitable from the bombing. Mohammed’s mother and two sisters have had to live in tents, moving first to Rafah and then evacuating to central Gaza. All 6 members of the family are now together, sleeping on the floor in the living room of a 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom house they share with 14 other people in Dier al-Balah in central Gaza.

This summer, despite the chaos, both Mohammed and Shahd managed to resume their studies via the internet. They need to walk a mile to get a decent connection, and ten miles to get a connection strong enough to let them take their exams. Shahd has just submitted her thesis, and Mohammed plans to submit his in the next month. Their future is uncertain, though, in terms of work. No one can leave Gaza yet, and the internet is not reliable enough for a full-time, long-distance job — even if you can find a company that will hire people living in Gaza right now.

Mohammed’s older sister was accepted to a university in Qatar, but has had to delay acceptance until the Israeli government allows her to leave. His younger sister, age 9, is being home schooled by family members because no elementary schools remain standing. It’s hard to obtain school supplies like textbooks, writing paper, or pencils for her, but they are trying to teach her what they can so she doesn’t fall too far behind.

Shahd and baby are healthy despite the conditions. There is sewage running in the streets, and clean water is difficult to find. Bottled water is now 10 times its price before the conflict, and even non-bottled water (which is not safe enough for Shahd, who is breast feeding, and her baby to drink) is 3 times the price it was before. Farmland has been destroyed and food stocks have been depleted, so the family is relying on whatever expensive canned food they can find.

Medical care is almost non-existent, and Mohammed’s mother is still waiting for the surgery she has needed for the past year. People with urgent medical needs are being asked to bring their own medical supplies to the hospital, and family members are often required to assist doctors with procedures.

Mohammed and Shahd have managed to keep the bulk of donated funds in reserve for exit fees in the hopes that they will be permitted to leave Gaza soon. However, as the conflict continues funds are increasingly needed for their basic survival. No one imagined that the Rafah exit would not only be closed, but that all the roads and buildings leading up to the Egyptian border would be completely burned and demolished. No one imagined the conflict would last this long with no end in sight.

Thanks to your generosity, Mohammed was able to purchase a solar panel that has proved indispensable to their family. With it, they can power a 30-watt fan to keep the baby comfortable in 90 - 100 degree heat. If they alternate usage, the panel also allows them charge their cell phones so they can complete their university studies. Mohammed and Shahd are so grateful to you for making this possible for them.

In January, we estimated for 2 months worth of expenses. Thankfully, your donations have allowed them to survive for an additional 7 months. We’re hoping you’ll continue to donate what you can to help them through whatever time remains.

Costs are more exorbitant each day. For example, before the conflict, 3 potatoes cost about 55 cents. Now they cost the equivalent of $41. Fresh food is almost impossible to find, so the family relies mostly on canned goods. A single can of fava beans costs more than $5. There’s no work to help them afford to buy food, so your donations are the only way they are able to survive. They are so thankful for your help.

To get the funds to Shahd, Mohammed, and their family, I transfer donations from my bank account in the US to Mohammed’s bank account in Gaza. There are no ATMs left standing, but Mohammed is able to access the funds by going to the bank when possible. The fees at the time of transfer are 12%, and Mohammed pays additional 8% fees as well as providing ID and extensive paperwork to collect the funds. Despite the high fees, we have found this to be the most cost-effective, secure, and efficient way to get the funds to Shahd and her baby.

Originally, Mohammed and Shahd had 9 family members (including themselves and their baby) in Gaza. Just before the Rafah crossing was destroyed, 3 members of their family were able to leave. Now Mohammed is trying to keep about $52,000 USD in reserve for travel expenses for the remaining members of their family (Mohammed, Shahd, their baby, his mother, and his two sisters) to have ready if they are allowed to exit.

Previously, we had a general idea of the exit and travel costs. At present, it’s not clear what amount will be needed. Costs could be more or, if there is humanitarian aid to cover some of the costs, less. Below I’ve outlined their expenses so far and our best estimate for how much the family may need through December.

Exit and Travel Expenses

Border crossing = 6 * $6,000 = $36,000

Passport fees = 6 * $150 = $600

Flight tickets 6 * $2500 = $15,000

Total Exit & Travel = $51,600

Fees

GoFundMe Fees 2.9% of $97, 092 raised: $2813

Bank Fees 20% of remaining $94,279: $18,856

Total Fees: $21,669

January - September Expenses

Solar Panel: $3,000

University Fees: $1,000

Baby Supplies: $1,000

Food: $9,000

Water: $1,800

Shelter: $6,300

Hygiene, Medications, and Medical Care: $4,500

Total Jan - Sep Expenses: $26,600

Estimated October - December Expenses

Baby Supplies: $300

Food: $3,000

Water: $600

Shelter: $2,100

Hygiene, Medications, and Medical Care: $1,500

Total Estimated Oct - Dec Expenses: $7,500

Summary

Exit & Travel = $51,600

Fees: $21,669

Jan - Sep Expenses: $26,600

Estimated Oct - Dec Expenses: $7,500

Total Expenses through December: $138,100

Amount Raised So Far: $97,092

Still Needed: $41,008

Thank you again for giving a sense of normalcy and security to this young and hardworking family. You’ve helped alleviate the constant fear and instability they face, allowing them to focus on the joy of welcoming their child and the task of building a better future amidst the challenges.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Alice Wakelin