Save Al Shawa: Urgent Gaza Evacuation

I'm Omar Abu Shaban, the fundraiser organizer, striving to assist Hammam El Shawa and his family. They've encountered immense challenges in Gaza.

VERY URGENT:The situation for Hammam’s family in Gaza is dire—it’s a matter of life and death. Each day brings escalating crisis, leaving them without basic necessities and safety. Evacuation is their only hope to rescue four lives from peril. But there’s a financial hurdle: $5,000 USD per person for the travel fees, totaling around $30,000 CAD. This funding is crucial—it will ensure their escape and a chance at a safe future away from Gaza’s turmoil.

Hammam’s family story

Allow me to introduce myself: Hammam El Shawa, 35 years old, born and raised in the heart of Gaza. I'm the head of the El Shawa clan, a family of five who've seen our fair share of struggles in this tumultuous land.

You see, we're not exactly rolling in dough. With zero income and savings, we've always had to make do with what little we have. But despite the odds stacked against us, we've always had one thing: hope.

We dared to dream big. We pooled together every last penny to buy a building, envisioning a sanctuary where we could not only live but also create opportunities for others in our community. It was a modest dream, but it was ours.

However, fate had other plans. Our building was reduced to rubble in the blink of an eye, along with our dreams, our savings, and our only means of livelihood. We were left with nothing but despair, forced to flee the chaos of Gaza with nothing but the clothes on our backs.

But I refused to let despair consume us. With determination in my heart, I launched a fundraising campaign to evacuate my family from Gaza and save our lives. Despite our own financial struggles, I knew we had to do whatever it took to survive.

The response was overwhelming. People from all corners of the globe rallied behind us, their compassion shining through in our darkest hour. With their support, we bid farewell to the war-torn streets of Gaza and set out on a journey to find safety and security elsewhere.

Now, here we are, starting anew in a place where hope flickers like a candle in the darkness. We may not have much, but we have each other, and together, we will rebuild our lives from the ground up.

Our story is one of resilience, of refusing to be defeated by circumstances beyond our control. And though the road ahead may be long and arduous, we will continue to march forward, guided by the unwavering belief that as long as we have hope, anything is possible.

But our journey carries a heavier burden. You see, I was engaged, set to marry my beloved in October. But the outbreak of war shattered those plans, leaving our hearts heavy with sorrow. Yet, even in the midst of our personal tragedy, we find strength in the solidarity of our family and the support of our newfound community. Together, we will navigate the uncertainties of the future, holding onto the hope that one day, amidst the ruins of our past, we will find solace and happiness once more