Help Rescue Alaa and her Family from Genocide

Hi everyone, my name is Mahiya and I am supporting my dear friend Alaa and her family escape from genocide.

Please note: As I’m based in Australia, all donations collected will be in Australian dollars and later converted to US dollars when sending to Alaa. If Paypal is preferred, please transfer to [email redacted]

Read Alaa’s story below:

Hello, my name is Alaa and I'm from Gaza. I was a student studying Software Engineering at university. My life was so beautiful, like any young girl who studies at university and lives with her family safely and peacefully.

Here are some photos of my life before the war:

On 7th October 2023, we woke up to the sound of shelling. From very early in my life, I have unfortunately lived through many wars in Gaza. But this war is not like any other war I've experienced. This is a war like no other. We were forcibly displaced by the occupation from the North of the Gaza Strip to the South.

On 14th October 2023, the 7th day of war, we left without saying goodbye. To be honest, we didn't expect to be displaced for more than 9 months now. At first, we went to the university in Khan Yunis where they gave us a tent to live in and we stayed there for 4 months.

One day, some Israelis stopped us and ordered us to get out of my father's car and after we got out, they ordered us to leave without taking anything from the car. We later found out that they set fire to our car and burned it. We then walked on foot from Khan Yunis to Rafah.

We arrived to Rafah without any shelter. After we settled in there and spent 4 months in Rafah, they told us that Rafah has now become a 'danger zone' and we must go back to Khan Yunis.

Now we are living in Khan Yunis in a ver hot tent. We are hungry everyday, but the food prices are very high and water is scarce because of the destruction of the water networks in Khan Yunis by the occupation. We now must buy water using money and obtain it from a place far away. My old father cannot carry water from such a far distance.

I have lost 25kgs in this war, and all of my family have lost weight. I want to rent a place to live in it with my family because I cannot bear to live in the tent anymore. I have lived in a tent for 9 months now and I'm really tired. I also have to wake up at 6am due to the mosquito bites.

Despite the difficult circumstances in which we live, I want to complete my education and continue my life like all people. I want a decent human life, and not a life that is far worse than those of animals. I want to be able to buy clothes for my family and I (4 of us) as we have spent 4 seasons wearing the same clothes. I want money to bring food, fruits, water, internet and be able to charge my laptop to complete my education.

When the borders open, I want to be able to travel. Our house, car and my university have now been destroyed and I hope to find someone who can help me.

Please support us in the most challenging time of our life.

Thank you so much for reading my story and supporting me.