Save Reem's children from the war to rebuild a decent life
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Hello, I am Reem Abdul Rahman, an engineer, teacher, and mother of six children. I write to you from the heart of Gaza, where we face a new challenge for survival every day. We are trapped in the relentless grip of war, and I pen this story to address every free person and anyone with a living conscience.
Let me share my professional journey; my graduation day from the College of Engineering, where I achieved excellent grades, remains one of the happiest days of my life. However, I soon encountered a daunting challenge: finding a job in Gaza, a task that feels nearly impossible. I decided to pursue a degree in mathematics education to fulfill my dream of becoming a teacher.
After a grueling journey filled with hard work, I finally secured a teaching position at a school in Gaza, which brought me immense joy. Unfortunately, that happiness was short-lived, as war shattered everything I had built. I lost my job, and all my dreams faded away.
Since the onset of the war, we have witnessed heartbreaking scenes and lost our dearest loved ones. On the night of Friday, November 17, 2023, at 1:10 AM, while we were deep in sleep, we were jolted awake by a horrifying explosion; it was an attack on my uncle's house next door, claiming the lives of 14 individuals, most of whom were children and women. Just two days later, the same tragedy struck an empty house, resulting in the deaths of 23 of my relatives. I lost my dearest ones, my mother and my uncle, leaving me with only one uncle remaining. For the past year, this harrowing scenario has unfolded before my children's eyes; they have endured severe psychological trauma and have been forced to confront the grief and bitterness of loss since their early childhood.
A year has passed since the war began, and we live under the constant threat of airstrikes and tank fire, day and night, with the smell of death permeating everywhere. There is no safe place left; every day is a desperate struggle for survival. Instead of waking up for school, the children rise to gather firewood and stand in line for water and bread.
With a heavy heart, I write to you; my family and I are on the brink of disaster. Those who have not died from bombs and airstrikes are succumbing to starvation, malnutrition, and the spread of diseases due to inadequate sanitation, scarce drinking water, and a lack of cleaning supplies. The conditions here are truly horrific.
After a year of enduring this war, I can no longer tolerate these oppressive circumstances. The dream of having a job has faded, and my home has not escaped destruction. I have no choice but to start this fundraising campaign, hoping for your assistance and support for me and my family. Given these dire circumstances, I am striving to evacuate my family from Gaza as soon as the Egyptian borders are opened, so I can seek new employment and build a future for my children, especially after the collapse of the educational system in Gaza.
Allow me to share more details about my children:
- Siba, 14, has not attended the eighth grade and should be in the ninth now. She suffered from psychological trauma resulting in plucking her eyebrows, eyelashes, and scalp hair.
- Bisan, 12, has not attended the sixth grade and should be in the seventh. She suffers from speech problems, stubbornness, and irritability.
- Yasin, 11, has not attended the fifth grade and should be in the sixth. He complains of weak bones and teeth due to a deficiency in calcium and other nutrients.
- Hidaya, 9, has not attended the third grade and should be in the fourth. She suffers from daytime incontinence and involuntary urination due to excessive fear and urinary tract issues.
- Ahmad, 8, has not attended the second grade and should be in the third. He suffers from phobia and cries in the middle of the night.
- Ghada, 5, has not attended kindergarten and dreams of it constantly...She has deep wounds in her skin.
It has now become clear where the donations will be directed. Travel fees range from $6,000 to $8,000 per person to cross the borders via the Rafah crossing, in addition to transportation, living, and educational costs there. Despite a year of devastation, the Egyptian borders remain closed, and the siege is firmly in place, leaving us caught between the devastation of war and the threat of famine and poverty.
We are forced to live in Gaza, where no aid reaches us, and we endure a siege with exorbitant living costs. My family needs daily expenses, and here is a breakdown of how the donations will be spent:
* Food prices are extremely high, and children are starving.
* Drinking water is scarce and expensive.
* Water for household use is not readily available due to fuel shortages.
* Healthcare is essential amid the spread of diseases, and the prices of medicines have doubled.
* Hygiene products are unavailable, and their prices are astronomical, a consequence of the ongoing conflict.
* Clothing and shoes for children as we approach winter.
* Teaching children special educational lessons to salvage what can be salvaged after losing an entire school year and another year threatened with loss.
All goods in Gaza have multiplied in price by tens of times, and we can no longer meet the basic needs of my children.
Therefore, my request for your help is the only way to save their lives and future. Every dollar you donate could save a child's life, bring a smile to their face, and instill hope in the hearts burdened by sadness and misery. Please do not view this as just a tragic story. I ask for your support, not your sympathy; I urge you to take decisive action, whether by donating or sharing this message with those who can provide assistance.
Please read this with empathy and respond as if your family and children were facing these circumstances. Every donation, no matter how small, could mean the difference between life and death for us.
Thank you for your generosity and support.
Reem Abdul Rahman
Organizer
Siham K
Organizer
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, A8