Save my family to evacuate from Gaza

Dear compassionate hearts,

I come to you with a plea for help amid an unimaginable crisis. My name is Rewand, and my family, consisting of 19 members, is currently trapped in the war-torn region of North Gaza, where they have lost their home and crucial aspects of their lives. The situation is dire, and we are urgently seeking your support to evacuate them to safety.

"Please take us to safety." My 4-year-old niece ended our previous phone call with these remarks. My first communication with them was after 80 days. My siblings and their families live in northern Gaza City, where food is limited and the bombing never ceases.

Our family is tight. After our father died 30 years ago, my mother and six children faced the world with faith and togetherness. We are three sisters living in Ontario, Canada, and our other three siblings are trapped in North Gaza. 

Rezek, my eldest sibling, reared us following the passing of my father; he is like a father to all of us. He is the parent of five promising children( Mohammad, Razan, Yamin, Rakan, and Layan). He is ill and has been without medication for the past two months. Although he should be on a restricted diet, he consumes whatever is available due to hunger in northern Gaza.

Our younger sibling is Ramez Hajjaj, who is also a physician and the parent of three children. Every time I attempted to contact him, he refrained from sharing any information regarding their daily lives during this attack, presumably to prevent our concern. My sibling has a fourteen-year-old cat named Abood. Ramez worries about his cat every time they are displaced. After I told him we were about to get temporary residency in Canada, he asked whether they could bring Abood, the cat. I regretfully answered that we must save them first.

Finally, my sister Rola, my bestie and soulmate,. She has five children (Omar, Ali, Ahmed, Sama, and Sarah). Her youngest is 1 year old. Before the war, she consistently refused to immigrate and leave Gaza, despite our best efforts to persuade her otherwise. However, since the recent Israeli aggression on Gaza and the subsequent displacement of the family, every time we talked, the first question would be, ”When would you be able to evacuate my family?” Once, she inquired whether I could only bring her children outside of Gaza. I am unable to sleep and can only recall her requesting milk and food for her one-year-old daughter. Her words hunt me all the time: "Rewand, the death smell is everywhere. I don’t like to see my kids sleeping, fearing that if they close their eyes, it will be the last time to do so.”

The funds raised will be crucial in facilitating their journey to safety. Our immediate goal is to cover the costs associated with crossing the Rafah border, a lifeline for those seeking refuge. Once they reach Cairo, Egypt, the next critical step is to submit their biometric data to the Canadian Embassy, the final requirement to get the Canadian Temporary Visa.

Every donation, no matter how small, will contribute to reuniting our family and providing them with the sanctuary they desperately need. Your generosity can make a significant impact on their journey to a better and safer life.

We recognize that circumstances are difficult for everyone, but your help will mean the world to us. Please share this campaign with your network to help us expand our reach. Let us work together to provide our loved ones with hope and protection at this difficult time.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being so kind and generous.