Help Samer's family survive the war in Gaza

My name is Samer Al-Shiyah. I’m the proud husband and father of my eighteen-month-old son Zain. I was born in Gaza in 1997, like my parents, I was born under the shadow of the Israeli occupation, and have never known freedom or life beyond Gaza.

Despite every challenge I have faced, my parents raised me to work hard and overcome every obstacle in my path. Before the war began last October, I was a practicing lawyer. My wife was a medical technologist. Our life was filled with hope and potential, and with the blessing of a newborn son, it felt like my whole life was in front of me.

But since October 7, my life that was filled with hope and promise has been reduced to rubble. Our family home in the North of Gaza was bombed by the Israeli army, and I had to flee wih my wife, our newborn son, my elderly parents, and seven siblings.

Since the start of the war, my family has had to move twelve times, fleeing bombing, snipers and starvation. Displaced in our own homeland, our home is now a tent in a refugee camp in Southern Gaza. My sole purpose has been survival, and the protection of my pregnant wife, our beautiful little boy, my parents and siblings.

Although our home, our lives, and the entire world around us has been reduced to rubble, I still hope for better days. For a brighter future when we can rebuild our lives, raise my children in peace and live with dignity.

I dream and I pray every day for this brighter future, but until that day comes, I must find the strength and the resources to protect and sustain my family

Our daily life is a constant struggle, as I try to find ways to provide for the needs of a toddler, a pregnant woman and my elderly parents. The most basic necessities of life - clean water, food, medicine, soap, nappies - are scarce and often unaffordable.

Any donations you can provide will help us obtain basic supplies to stay alive and to stay healthy enough to survive this nightmare, and to live with dignity.

I turn to you in my darkest hour of need to ask you for your help and financial support to help me save the one thing that has not been taken from me - my family.

As a father, as a husband, as a son and as a human being, I am so grateful to all of you, and I pray that your family will never see a day like the ones that we are living.

Thank you, and Jazakum Allahu Khairan,

Samer Al-Shiyah

On behalf of my parents, wife ,our son Zain, my siblings and our unborn child.

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This fundraiser is organized by me, Ahd Kamel

I am a friend of Samer, and I am offering logistical support.

All funds raised are being distributed directly to Samer's personal bank account in Palestine, and confirmation/evidence of payment can be provided upon request.