Help the Community in Gaza & Supporting Amer Nasser’s Family

Miriam & Zo are organizing a fundraiser on behalf of Amer Nasser and his family.

This is the story of our friend photographer and filmmaker Amer Nasser and his family. They live in Gaza and lost everything. Amer and his beautiful and talented family are pillars of the community. They are multigenerational storytellers and artists. We are asking you to donate to help them survive so they can help the community. Besides their home, all of Amer’s equipment has been destroyed in the war as well. We are also kindly asking you to help his family rebuild their home and fund his new equipment so that he can continue to document what’s happening in Gaza daily. Since so many journalists have been killed, we believe this is an important element of our fundraising efforts. The story has to be told for future generations to come so genocide doesn’t happen again.

PORTFOLIO:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/179XvUnGdBmjUoCQL0VkpJQ4UBWdwFdU8/view?usp=drivesdk

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/amernasser_91

Thankfully Amer has been able to communicate via WhatsApp whenever he is able to access an internet connection. Below Amer describes the situation in his own words that we want to share with you. He also explains how he will use the money raised. We thank you so much for your interest and support!

Miriam & Zo

My Friends, the war continues, and we are still besieged in the north of Gaza, as though it started just today. Many of my close ones and relatives around me have lost their dearest. A large number of my relatives from both my father's and mother's families have been killed or wounded. About 90% of them have also lost their homes, which were completely or partially destroyed, despite the damage they sheltered my family many times during their escapes from one place to another to avoid the random bombings. Particularly, my sister, who moved to the south, has been stuck there for six months, living in a tent with her three children after losing her home. My wife, who is among the closest people to me, also lost her family's home, forcing her family to migrate to the South as well. With so much loss and devastation, I do not want to be that person who overlooks all around him, selfishly thinking only of his salvation, leaving others to drown...

Have you ever been stuck for 12 hours in a tiny bathroom that's barely 1*2 meters with seven members of your family? Or slept on a bed so close to the floor, worried the ceiling might fall on you any minute? We thought this was just another war that we'd get through and then get back to our lives as before.

We didn't want to leave our home in the north Gaza Strip, the only place we had, now half destroyed by rockets... turned to ruins... its spirit is gone, and its vibrant colors now just grey... it's all just rubble now. We left our home, leaving everything behind to escape the air and artillery attacks, always ready to run from Israeli tanks and soldiers when the ground attack started. I can't even count the number of places I've slept in; we were just looking for a roof over our heads and a mat to sleep on the ground by candlelight, as there's been no electricity for months. We sleep at night to the sound of random shelling and feel relieved when we see daylight... we are still alive, fighting to live.

I clearly remember waking up to the sound of tanks and bulldozers from the occupying forces in the street next to ours... We were surrounded for a whole month without water or food, sharing just one liter of non-drinkable water among me and seven family members each day. The noise of bullets and shelling never stopped... until one day, Israeli military forces stormed our neighborhood with heavy bombing and continuous gunfire on the houses. We had to hide in the bathroom for a whole day because it was the farthest spot from the entrance and had fewer windows... without doing anything human... no chance to move or speak... At that moment, all I wished was for their noise to disappear, wishing someone in this indifferent world would hit a mute button to silence them... The sound of destruction and breaking mixed with their loud laughter. How could the destruction and burning of our lives, homes, and memories be entertaining to someone?

VIDEO:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17tQtLN70Dh7KMIaPjazxm3ks2iVblfhS/view?usp=drivesdk

What was left of our home we left behind ended up like those houses, struck and burned with everything inside. The house was robbed... accepting this as normal is unimaginable because building a house or buying a small piece of land in Gaza is not easy... I worked many years to enjoy building a simple home, only for someone in seconds to reduce it to nothing... A home is not just about security and stability; it represents years of hard work and sacrifice.

I still stop myself from thinking about our surroundings... how were we deprived of life? How has getting a bag of flour to make a loaf of bread, now costing nearly 900 dollars from just 9 dollars, become our main worry? My mind is only filled with thoughts of finding food or drink for my family. I say this every time we all gather happily around a bag of food that enters our home, or when we spend hours just talking about how much the prices of sugar and rice in the markets have gone up... "We deserve life" and we have the right to live... We used to have everything: a decent life, a job, a home, a family, land, a country... and dreams. Now, we're left with nothing but emptiness... and suffering.

Here we are, a family from Gaza... chased by wars for 20 years... still, we love life... we want it back... with its happiness and sadness, its struggles and weariness... we just want it... I still believe the world isn't all bad and not as awful as I've seen... it has a kind side... it can offer us a hand to start over...

Among our losses was our home, which sheltered more than 20 family members across four floors. It was not just a structure but was filled with memories, appliances, furniture, personal items we collected over the years, and savings we hoped to use to improve our lives. All gone in a flash, leaving nothing but debris and painful memories.

Now, life in the Gaza Strip is facing tough realities, split into north and south. Those of us in the north are facing especially hard conditions. Food, water, and shelter are incredibly scarce, and when available, they're too expensive, making them nearly impossible to get. We face unspeakable daily challenges trying to survive, lacking the basics for a decent life.

Despite these losses and challenges, we still keep hope and believe that humanity will prevail and help us rebuild our lives from the ruins. Your help means more than just financial support; it shows that the world still has kindness and empathy. We value every donation, big or small, as it lights up our darkest days with hope. We're deeply thankful for all the support you offer, believing that together, we can bring back life and joy to those who've suffered a lot.

**Rebuilding the community and supplying essentials. Solar panels, inverters, and batteries since there is hardly any power available in Gaza. Internet connections so people can communicate and set up helplines to receive aid. Self-sufficiency is key to survival. $20,000

**Restoration of Photography Equipment and Editing Device:** During the conflict, my photography equipment and editing device, essential for my professional work, were destroyed. The loss of these tools has significantly hindered my ability to earn a living and continue my passion. Therefore, I kindly request a compensation of $15,000 to replace the damaged equipment and restore my professional capabilities and to buy three solar panels, an inverter, and batteries, to power our house after five months of the electricity cut and to have the ability to charge our devices so we can still be connected to the world.

I am currently working on a significant documentary project in Gaza, capturing images that reflect efforts of survival and the spirit of resistance amidst conflicts and severe shortages of basic resources. This project showcases how people innovate alternative ways to survive and continue their lives despite harsh conditions. I need your support to complete this important project and bring it to light, serving as a testament to the human spirit and hope in Gaza.

The Project Gaza Signal De Vie:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TUeemnNBtWSHH_Jjms_SpPIm5Z4oHYGl/view?usp=drivesdk

**Rebuilding and Restoring our home: **The War has left our residence in ruins, both structurally and in terms of its contents, rendering it unlivable and stripping us of our daily essentials. From furniture and appliances to the very essence that made our house a home, nearly everything has been lost. As we face the immense challenge of rebuilding from scratch, we find ourselves in desperate need of $40,000 to repair the damage and make our home habitable once more for us and our extended family and Palestinians in need. This support is not just about fixing a building but is a crucial step towards recovering many lives, restoring normalcy, and moving forward after the devastation.

Before the war, my brother and I were working on a project called "Visit Gaza." Unfortunately, the war prevented this project from being launched. It was designed to create tourism posters that showcase the unique charm and warm atmosphere of Gaza, a city that is one of the most beautiful hidden gems on Earth, contrary to the prevailing negative image often portrayed.

For those who donate more than $500, we will offer a modest gift—a tourist poster of Gaza City. This gesture is our way of thanking you for your generous support and helping to bring a positive spotlight to this remarkable location.