Help Vittorio's family evacuate from Gaza

My name is Vittorio, I am a 12-year-old Palestinian/Canadian boy who carries a legacy of compassion and resilience. I was named after Italian human rights defender Vittorio Arrigoni, who held Gaza close to his heart until his last breath, imploring humanity to “Restimo Umani” or “Stay Human.” Today, I echo his call as I join my family in Gaza, including my beloved grandmother, my uncles, and my cousins in their struggle to survive the ongoing genocide and massive destruction of Gaza by calling upon you to help support our campaign to pull my family alive out of Gaza and bring them to safety in Canada.

I was born and raised in Gaza, where I lived happily with my large, close-knit extended family until my parents decided to flee in the aftermath of the 2021 attack on Gaza and relocated to Canada for our safety. Gaza was the site of my joyful childhood memories with grandparents, cousins, uncles, and other relatives. As I left Gaza, my only wish was for my loved ones to live safe and fulfilling lives, but tragically, that dream seems impossible given their current reality and my constant fear that I may lose them in an instant.

My beloved 81-year-old grandmother endured lasting childhood trauma from her first experience with ethnic cleansing in 1948 when her country, home, and identity were violently appropriated. She recounts the anguish of her displacement and now, in her old age is faced with yet another ethnic cleansing and dispossession. The people of Gaza are deprived of security, safety, proper nutrition, medicine, and other basic humanitarian needs and are on the verge of famine, which has already started manifesting in the Northern part of Gaza with causalities increasing by the day.

My grandmother lives with my uncles, Mohammed and Khaled, both pillars of our brave family and resilient community. Their humble home has turned into a haven for fifteen displaced families who lost their homes due to indiscriminate Israeli bombing. My uncle Mohamed, who was a Video & photojournalist, his wife Rajaa and their five children, and my uncle Khaled, who is a dedicated high school history teacher, with his wife Enas and their five children are trying to cope and survive under the looming threat of death due to bombing and/or starvation. They are in a constant struggle to provide food, water, and other necessities for themselves and their guests, in light of the scarcity of food, and other necessities to sustain life.

Like all homes in Gaza, my family home witnessed many tragedies during the war. The worst and most heartbreaking were the loss of countless relatives, loved ones, close friends, and neighbors who represent a significant part of our childhood memories and daily existence. My family lives in terror with every bombing that is close to them, as homes, mosques, and health facilities surrounding our home were repeatedly targeted and destroyed causing physical damage to our home which added further challenges. Many of my relatives lost their homes, properties, and businesses. My cousins can no longer attend their schools and universities as normal life no longer exists in Gaza now or in the foreseeable future.

We hope and pray that we'll be able to save my family and bring them to the safety of Canada before it's too late since there is no safe place left in Gaza. The bombing has not stopped, and every day they survive is a miracle.

Gaza is a place where despair has become the new normal. But with your help, we have hope. Every donation and every gesture of support brings us closer to achieving our goal of bringing our family to safety. Your generosity can make a world of difference for our family. Thank you for your kindness, and compassion, and for choosing to be part of this mission. Your support means everything to us and to the people of Gaza.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Vittorio Elburai

The total amount needed is $250,000 Canadian dollars ~ $180,000 US Dollars.

The campaign aims to cover key expenses including:

The cost of leaving Gaza for Egypt USD $70,000 ~ CAD $95,000

One-way flights from Egypt to Canada USD $14,000 ~ CAD $19,000

3-6 months stay in Egypt until Canadian Visa is ready, USD $50,000 ~ CAD $70,000

Plus, help for the first few months following landing in Canada. Canada will not support Gazans financially upon landing in Canada.

They will require help with, Housing, furniture, food, clothing, transportation, medical insurance, etc.