Trapped Family in Gaza Appeals for Help to Survive

I am Shorouq, a mother of three children: Qusai, 7 years old, Eileen, 5 years old, and Hisham, who is nearing his second birthday. I lived with my husband Samer in a beautiful home in northern Gaza, where our lives were filled with hope. Every corner of our home held precious memories, from our children’s laughter to the happy moments we shared as a family. But over a year ago, everything changed. The dream we built turned into an endless nightmare. We lost everything, and our journey of suffering and displacement began.

On the night of October 10, 2023, after I had put my children to bed, the bombing grew closer. At exactly 1:30 AM, the threat came. We had to leave our home immediately. There was no time to think, no time to gather anything. We carried our children and fled into the dark, not knowing where to go, just trying to survive the relentless bombing. Our home, which was once our safe haven, was partially destroyed and became uninhabitable. Along with it, all the beautiful memories we made were gone. We left with no food, no extra clothes, and none of the basic necessities for our children.

We moved around for two weeks inside Gaza City, being displaced twice during that time, until we finally reached Rafah on October 20, 2023. There, a new chapter of our suffering began. We had no choice but to live in a small tent. As a mother, the hardest thing was seeing my children hungry and not being able to provide for them. No clean water, no food to sustain them, and the cold wrapping around their small bodies.

My son Qusai has had a heart condition since birth, requiring several surgeries. In these circumstances, we can’t access the medical care he needs, not even basic medicine. Every time I see him in pain, my heart breaks. How can I, as a mother, not provide safety and treatment for my child?

My daughter Eileen, only five years old, has been deeply affected by the war. She was once a joyful and lively child, but now fear has taken over her small face. She no longer laughs like she used to, and she no longer dreams of the future. The war has stolen her childhood.

On October 5, 2023, we were threatened again and forced to flee from Rafah to Deir al-Balah. This was our fifth displacement. We stayed there for two months, but even Deir al-Balah wasn’t safe. Once again, we packed our few belongings and headed to the town of Zawaida.

My youngest son, Hisham, who hasn’t yet turned two, is suffering from malnutrition. I cannot describe the feeling of looking at my baby, knowing he is hungry and not being able to provide him with the proper food. Prices for basic needs have skyrocketed, with even diapers costing $100. We were also living in constant fear of the polio outbreak, which was declared by the World Health Organization. This added another layer of terror for us as a family, fearing for our children’s health, but thankfully, we managed to get them vaccinated just in time.

For the second year in a row, my children have not been able to attend school. No education, no clear future. As a mother, I feel helpless, unable to give them the hope they deserve.

We now live in a small tent where everything is cramped into one tiny space. The bathroom, kitchen, and sleeping area are all in one room. The war rages on, and we live between fear, hunger, and the cold.

Today, I ask for your help. As a mother, all I want is to take my children to a safe place, where they can enjoy their childhood without fear or hunger. We need your support, as the cost of travel alone is $5,000 per person for me and my husband, and $2,500 for each of our three children, bringing the total to $17,500, just to cover the expenses required by travel companies to get us to safety.

In addition to this, we need ongoing support to start a new life. We need your help to rent a home, continue my son Qusai’s medical treatment, and enroll my children in school so they can resume their education. My husband and I need the means to stand on our feet again, to rebuild our lives and give our children the future they deserve.

Please support us in this campaign so we can escape this suffering and provide a dignified life for my children, far from the destruction.

Help us give my children a chance at a new life.