Help my beloved family escape war and famine in Gaza

Hello, my name is Hassan Abualfahem, and I’m 28 and from Abraj-Al-Awda in Northern Gaza. I now live in Turkey and work as a school teacher. My five brothers, sister and parents are trapped in Gaza living through an unimaginable nightmare. Their home in Abraj-Al-Awda was destroyed in the war, and they no longer have any way to make an income as all of their workplaces have also been destroyed.

My family’s apartment building, before and after

Now, the younger members of my family and my parents are crammed into a tiny apartment in Deir Al Balah in Central Gaza, and the older boys live in a tent in Rafah. There is very little food and clean water available, and disease is running rampant across Gaza, particularly in Rafah. I am desperate to get them to safety as soon as possible.

Before the war, my older brother, Mohammed (29), was a school teacher and a network engineer. Tragically, his school was completely destroyed, and many of his young students lost their lives. My brother AbdulMajeed (22) is a deeply creative soul who worked as a graphic designer in a company that has also been destroyed. Now, he too is unemployed with no hope of finding new work.

Mohammed

AbdulMajeed

My brothers, Ahmed (20) and AbdulRahman (18), had dreams of going to university, supported by scholarships. In order for them to get an education, they must leave Gaza. Without an education, it will be difficult for them to find work and provide for their future families.

AbdulRahman

Ahmed

My sweet sister, Zahab (15), and brother, Ghassan (10), have been forced to grow up too fast, missing out on childhood joys like safety and play in our once-peaceful neighborhood. Now they live without reliable access to clean water and food, and are at risk of contracting diseases.

Ghassan

Zahab

My mother, Mona (51), lost her cozy home, where she lovingly baked cakes and prepared delicious meals. And our hardworking father (Talal), 61, a retired wedding venue coordinator, saw everything he had built vanish suddenly.

Talal

Mona

My family is desperate to leave Gaza and join me in Turkey, where I am renting a small apartment to accommodate them. Unfortunately, in order to leave Gaza, my family must pay around $5000-$6000 USD per person to get through the crossing at Rafah. Without any employment, my family doesn’t have the money to pay this exorbitant fee. I created this GoFundMe with my uncle, Ghassan, who lives in Alberta, Canada. We must raise $55,000 USD total – or $75,000 Canadian dollars – to get them out so they can live in safety.

Purpose:

The purpose of this fundraiser is to raise enough funds to cover the costs of travel, the entry fee into Egypt from Gaza, temporary shelter, rent, and basic necessities for my family until they can get back on their feet.

Total Budget Ask: $55,000 USD ($75,000 CAD)

Pricing Breakdown

Transportation (leaving Gaza):

$37,500

$35,000 (seven adults)

$2,500 (1 child)

Shelter:

$5,000 (apartment for 8 in Cairo for up to 6 months)

$2,000 (rent support in Istanbul)

Travel:

$2,500 (flights to Istanbul for 8)

Additional Expenses:

$5,500 (Food, medical expenses, clothes)

$2,500 (Visas and miscellaneous border expenses)

Goal:

Our goal is to raise $55,000 USD in order to secure our family safely outside of Gaza, and to provide my family with the resources to rebuild their lives in Istanbul.

Please note that this fundraiser is in Canadian dollars, not US dollars. Due to the exchange rate, this means that if you donate $50CAD, your contribution is actually only $36USD. We would be grateful if you would adjust your donations accordingly - for example, sending $69CAD if you intend to donate $50USD.

Thank you for reading our story and donating to help my family.