Help Tamara & Her Family Rebuild Their Life After War

My name is Leila Haseba Shaban and I'm a Palestinian living in the United States, fundraising on behalf of my Gazan family.

For the past 13 months of this genocide, they have endured unimaginable hardships, moving from one refugee camp to another, living in war zone conditions that no human should ever experience.

We are mourning the loss of over 30 family members, while the rest are still at risk due to constant bombardment, food scarcity, and contaminated water.

Most of my family cannot escape the onslaught, they do not have the funds, the travel documents, and the border is now closed. However, one of my cousins managed to evacuate to Egypt with her family.

I am fundraising for their basic necessities and long term, to rebuild their lives in Gaza & Cairo.

‍‍‍ THE FAMILY YOU'LL BE DIRECTLY SUPPORTING:‍‍‍

GOALS & WHAT DONATIONS WILL BE USED FOR:

WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR HELP NOW:

My father and I are one of the few members from our Palestinian family that are living in diaspora. My parents and I have been sending money to our loved ones when we can. I've taken thousands out of my emergency savings to help them.

After 10 months of war and no end in sight, we cannot continue to financially support them all without my father putting himself into further debt, and putting myself in a precarious financial situation which is why we're asking for help now.

Please support me as I try to put an end to their suffering, ensure their survival, and provide them with a chance to start anew.

HOW THEY WILL RECEIVE CASH AID:

Previously, I was transferring my personal money through Western Union but there were delayed delivery times, long waiting lines to pick up deposits, and a shortage of cash.

Now that most (if not all) physical institutions have been demolished, it has become nearly impossible to find anymore cash avenues in Gaza. We've had to find alternative ways of channeling cash aid when all traditional avenues have been destroyed.

The fastest way to get this urgent aid to my family is through hawala or a digital wallet which they have access to.

IN THEIR WORDS

Below I will be highlighting the stories of 2 cousins I've been able to be in touch with due to their knowledge of English. I've decided not to modify their words so please forgive any minor grammar errors.

TAMARA SHABAN

Tamara is a 35 year old woman who fled from the war to Egypt with her mother Najwa and her 2 sons: Zain & Malath. She is caretaking for them all while her husband is still trapped in Gaza.

'I was living a beautiful life. I took care of my child and taught him a lot. He was a special child in his intelligence. Our life was stable and my home was beautiful.

On October 6, I was packing my child’s bag and preparing for his day of celebration at school on the occasion of the olive harvest. I was very happy and was planning how to make my child special today. We went to bed and I read a story to my child about his early day.

Suddenly, on October 7, we heard strange noises and did not understand anything. We felt afraid, terrified, and anxious.

When the bombing started, I had to leave my house to my family’s parents’ house because my house was close to the bombing. We all went out, all shaking and not understanding what was happening and what had happened. When we moved to my father's house, we were exposed to death a lot.

Electricity, water and gas were cut off. We have returned to the forest era. We used to prepare food over the fire. We wash our clothes by hand. And all this under bombardment and fear.

My older brother was displaced from Gaza City to live in my parents' house. The house contained all of us.

One day, my brother-in-law's family home was bombed, and some family members were seriously injured. One leg was amputated, the other was paralyzed, and the mother was injured in her stomach. The girl suffering from paralysis remained in the hospital with her parents. They took the mother and the other daughter away.

They went to my family's parents' house because it was safer, and at that time there were no doctors or tools to take care of them.

Here it was my turn to take care of the child’s amputated leg and take care of the rest of the wounds on the body. Taking care of the mothers and providing first aid to them every day

After a while, a house next to my father's house was bombed. A family member was injured.

We went out to escape from the horror of the sight and the fear, everyone searching for their children and the screaming. I was looking for my child and taking care of the health and care of the injured. Then they started bombing again.

From here, I, my child, and my husband dispersed and fled to Nuseirat. And my family is in Khan Yunis. My big brother is in the UNRWA center. I did not do anything about them until a week after our displacement due to the lack of communication.

Hence, I decided to leave Gaza after a mosque, a school, and an 8-story house near the place of our displacement were bombed. How did we get out unharmed after we lost hope of living after all this bombing?

We were living in suffering due to the lack of water and food. My child's body has become weak and sick. I decided at that time to leave Gaza. When we left for Egypt, my child and I, and my husband returned to Gaza.

I have lived through the war itself. I was alone in Egypt with a child who needed care. I feel psychological and nervous pressure. Because of thinking about my family and their children.

One day in February I was going out to take my child to the park. When I reached the garden my phone was ringing and I answered it.

Hence the shock and from here I felt the world stopped. They told me the news of the martyrdom of my uncle and the news of the martyrdom of my brother. And I screamed with all my voice, impossible. I lost consciousness and have not known since then how to live and how to feel. I could not believe their departure and loss.

Please, I need your support to start a new life in Egypt. We are not allowed to travel outside Egypt, and my child is not allowed to receive education due to residency. The Palestinian is not granted residency except through a project.

I need help so that I and my child can be safe, and to help my family in Gaza and stand by their side. They have lost everything. And I don't have anything anymore.

I want to start over. I want a place that is safe for my child.

I don't dare write about everything I lived and am living. I can't bear it and I feel more sad and in the pain of separation and weakness. Help me collect donations to start again.'

ISMAIL SUFIAN RADWAN

Ismael is a devoted husband to Wala and a loving father to his two beautiful children: Leen & Ahmad. He is a graphic designer who has created numerous posters to highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza. IG @ismailradwan.designer

'I was living in peace and security in my life and spreading love in my surroundings and I was working as a graphic designer. I built my house for marriage and a beautiful family, but the war soon came and destroyed everything that destroyed my dreams, destroyed my future, my work ended, demolished my home and lost my family.

Israel took away our farmland, swept away about 200 olive and citrus trees, took control of the plot and built a buffer zone. Israel demolished my house and killed my father and brother.

I feel the loss of my father and brother with all the sadness they were killed when the house bombed and this house contains my apartment for the future. The house that was demolished is my home. I only got it from my grandparents’ heirs. Before the war, I used to live in this house alone.

Sure to lose your home, your security and your memories is unfortunate. Plus, I lost my device, which is my only source of income, and I lost all my important papers and data.

The war continues to rise, as does the death toll and destruction. It's still so bad because of the war after I lost everything. Currently, I am seeking a laptop to get back to work. After this human, material and psychological loss, it's still difficult. I can go back to where I was, but I need support.'

Endless gratitude for your care, solidarity, and generosity during these times of crisis for my family.