Help three generations of Gazans survive and rebuild

Do you know what it feels like to leave your beloved parents and brothers in a warzone, fleeing while you are 9 months pregnant? I do. This is my story.

My name is Ola. With the help and support of many people from around the world, I was able to escape Gaza with my four children and my husband. I was 9 months pregnant when I escaped and my 5th child, Yousef, was born safely in Cairo by c-section.

The support I got from so many people, friends and strangers, was a light in a time of great darkness.

But I left my heart in Gaza. My beloved parents, my two brothers, and my brothers' children and wife are trapped. I am now hoping for a second miracle: to raise money to keep them safe and help them rebuild our home which was destroyed.

My family includes:

My father, Hassan (78)

My mother, Mariam (68)

My brother, Ahmed (35)

My brother, Abed (35)

My brother's wife, Aya (30)

My niece, Jana (7)

My nephew, Hasan (5)

My family's home was destroyed. My parents suffer from medical issues. My brothers have lost their businesses. My niece stopped talking from the trauma of what she has seen. My brother and his wife and children now live on the beach without shelter, access to water or food. But we continue to have faith in humanity. We want to rebuild. I hope you can support us.

Let me tell you some stories from my family, in their own words

My father, Hassan, dreaming of peace

I was first displaced when I was 4 years old. I was displaced 20 years later and became a stateless refugee travelling from Egypt, to Libya, to Iraq, and finally to Syria.

With the Oslo Accords, I was allowed to return to Gaza. We rebuilt our lives there. And my children created roots and grew their families.

Hassan and his grandchildren in Gaza

Now in my old age, displacement has come once more. I move from place to place with my son and my wife.

The remains of Hassan's home

I wish for peace. I wish that my grandchildren can know safety in their homeland.

Some of Hassan's grandchildren at a birthday party

My brother, Ahemd, the shop owner and volunteer nurse

Hi, my name is Ahmed. I'm reaching out to your kindness and generosity to help me stand on my feet once again. I spent my life trying to secure a decent life for myself to be able to marry the girl I love. I started a small business and opened a store trading and fixing chairs. I was making good money supporting my mum, dad , myself and saving money to marry and to build my apartment that I put every penny on it and just before this bloody genocide has started, I had my apartment ready, my business was doing great and I had some money saved for the marriage. In the blink of an eye I lost everything. My apartment was not just walls: it was everything I worked for, I dreamt of seeing my future children playing there one day.

Ahmed before the war

Losing everything you ever worked for can break your soul, but I believe and have faith in humanity. I still have faith that with your help, I can start over again.

Ahmed working in his repair shop before the war

My sister-in-law, Aya, the worried mother of Jana, who has gone mute in this conflict

I love my children, like any mother. But this war has stripped them of their childhood. I dream of giving them safety, health, happiness.

Jana before the war

After the 7days truce, there was a military invasion to the north and our building was targeted. So many missiles and snipers were shooting crazily while we were still inside , we rushed out of the building that was on fire carrying our two kids. The bullets were being shot between our legs and over our heads, yet we managed to survive by a miracle. We were displaced to an UN shelter at Sheikh redwan and stayed there for 5days. Then a heavy bombardment started one night and we ran barefoot through the street taking cover under some trees all night long. In the morning, we decided to go back to our burnt place in the north . The kids were unable to move or speak. Jana lost her ability to speak out of shock and of the horror she has seen. Hasan started to wet himself at night and wakes up screaming and imagining things . He started to experience night panic attacks. We started looking for anything to eat and a place to stay at but our apartment was unfit to be inhabited as it was burnt and unsafe so we took shelter to A UN school living in a tent. The school was overcrowded. No clean water, no food. Using W. C was a nightmare. My kids caught hepatitis and had Intestinal catarrh . They also suffered from malnutrition and anemia. The kids cry out of hunger and pain and I as a mother am bleeding for them. We no longer have money to feed our kids or get our basic needs. My husband tried to risk his life and get them any food or aid he could get and went to the places where aid is being thrown by parachutes but in vain, people there were like you are watching a film of the end of the world fighting . one of the times, he was injured and beaten brutely by a gang and he has returned with empty hands and blood all over his face. My husband needs medical attention and care as he suffers from Epilepsy, and many issues with his back and foot and he needs a surgery for his back. Today we are living on the beach, with little shelter, food, or water. Your help is our lifeline.

Abed, Aya, Hasan, and Jana in their destroyed apartment

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My family are displaced all over the North, moving helplessly from place to place. We are hoping to raise 20,000 to cover the basic costs of living in Gaza.

With much love and gratitude,

Ola

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A note from the organiser

My name is Emma Tracey. I am an Irish entrepreneur, living in Berlin. I met Ola via her brother-in-law, who is a friend of mine in Germany. She is an amazing human being with a huge heart. I hope we can raise this money to provide basic support her family - and hopefully raise more in order to give them some support to rebuild their home after the war. The situation in Gaza is constantly changing. If the border reopens, we will consider evacuation as an option. If not, we will use the money to rebuild. In either case 100% of the money will go to Ola's beautiful family.