From War to Hope: Support Alaa Rebuild Her Life!

Dear Reader,

I am Alaa, I am 26 years old from the city of love and peace- The beloved city of Gaza. I work as a pharmacist in one of the pharmacies in my city. I used to live a quiet and beautiful life, full of passion for life. I used to work in my pharmacy every morning, passionately helping sick people and providing them with medical advice with all my love and attention to the profession.

My dreams were big and my ambitions were greater. I was striving and planning to complete my studies in pharmacology in order to serve my country with my knowledge, experience, and everything I could offer it.

But a hard and brutal war started one night. My city suffered the worst of it, with everything destroyed. Everything was gone in the fullest meaning of the word. Just as my aspirations and heart grew distant and unattainable, my nation's great features also changed and become depressing. All the hospitals were destroyed and my pharmacy was also bombed and wiped out. There was no place left for me in the health sector I once passionately made a living from. There was no place left for me in the health sector to work. And I make money through it.

Unfortunately, we were forced to move from Gaza City to the south, and we were not displaced once, but many times, to different places. At first we were in a shelter school, then the area became dangerous, and we were displaced again to a tent, then finally to a small room that could barely accommodate us.

We lived in very difficult and harsh conditions in all the places to which we were displaced. Unfortunately for us, the winter season visited us while we were still far from our warm homes. We did not carry anything with us to help us stay warm. We did not have clothes suitable for the winter season or even blankets that would warm our cold hearts before our bodies or even our hearts.

We lost our source of livelihood, as we could barely provide food and water. I was surprised after a while that our home, the warm family home that was filled with love and beautiful memories, and in which I lived the most beautiful details of my life, was destroyed, bombed, and even faded and became forgotten.

How difficult it was for my heart to have it erased. All my beautiful memories are there. The past is gone, and I am living the present now in a place that I do not know if it will remain safe or not. All places and all homes now have no security, safety, or warmth in them, and we are still threatened with eviction at any time. We have lived very difficult days. The fear that hurt my heart and the hearts of my family when we rushed to evacuate from a house for the second time will never erase from my memory. We had been displaced here in the middle of the night because a house was threatened by bombing next to us. I do not want to live through frightening details like this again. My heart can no longer bear it.

As for my future that I dreamed of, its features have become dark and ambiguous in destroyed Gaza. I maintain hope that it will return to what it was and even more beautiful.

But with all this pain and sorrow, life has taught me not to despair or give up on my dreams and ambitions. Rather, these circumstances have increased my resolve and determination to move forward in this life. Just as God has made available to us people to help us in this war, He will make available to me again those who will help me live a bright and beautiful future.

To get out of Gaza requires coordination with $5,000 per person. I have been unemployed for quite some time. I do not have any of this amount. I am really in dire need of getting out of Gaza to Egypt along with and my family. We desire safety and to preserve our lives, and then eventually to another country with the goal to complete my studies there.

I know that you can help me get out of Gaza to a safer place. Isn’t the homeland the one in which we feel safe and stable? The whole world is my homeland and all of you are my family and my brothers as well. With you and with you I will be able to live a decent life and a beautiful future to help my family and the people around me. I hope that you will make my heart happy, fulfill my dream, and lead me to a safer place than here.

I never expected to ask for help from anyone, but the circumstances forced me to do so, but I consider you my family and a person does not feel embarrassed by his family. Thank you to every person who will contribute to helping and supporting me, whether by publishing or donating.

I appreciate you taking the time to read. I'm Neliza Ramirez, and I'm Alaa's friend and supporter. The money will be given to me on Alaa's behalf. I promise to support her throughout this difficult period. We appreciate you taking the time to help Alaa. She will utilize the money to cover her essential expenses for things like food, housing, travel, and education. Furthermore, with your support, Alaa will be able to access tools and assistance to start over and construct a more secure future for her family and herself.