Supporting Two Gazan Families Who Lost Their Homes

What They Need:

I am coming to you in those very difficult and dark times seeking your support to help save my family in Gaza. Both of my sisters who live in the North, in Beit Laheia, have completely lost their houses and all their life spendings. They are currently homeless and are currently sheltering in Rafah.

My sister Noha is a Physiotherapist. She is pregnant and has 7 children. Her beautiful children are now sleeping in the cold after losing their house, their bedrooms, their toys, clothes and memories.

My sister Areej has also lost her house, which she and her husband worked so hard for. My beautiful nephews who are only 6, 3, and 8 months old are left with no house, no future, and no shelter. They are currently living under very hard living conditions with no access to food, clean water, or even bathrooms.

Who I Am:

My name is Alaa Hammouda. I am originally from Gaza and am currently living with my family here in the United States. I am coming to you during these very difficult times to help me uplift my sisters and their children who are in urgent need for your kind support.

What’s Our Goal:

The goal of this fundraiser is to help my sister purchase some of their necessities during these difficult times and rebuild their lives after the war ends. Every single donation, no matter how big or small, will help improve the living conditions for my sisters and their children whom the war has severely impacted and shattered their lives, memories, and future.

Despite the losses that my family and I are facing on a daily basis as a result of this war, we continue to cling to hope. I continue to plan and work for the days that will follow the war. I believe that now is the time that we must diligently work to create a better future for my nephews and nieces, so that they may have a brighter future. They are too young to be homeless.

What You’ll Help Fund:

We are seeking funds to help support two families, a family of 9 and a family of 5, or 14 people in total. The funds we are requesting are needed to support these two families' everyday living needs while they navigate the difficult waters of the war in Gaza. All collected funds will directly go to supporting Noha, Areej, and their beautiful families. Due to the destruction of schools and hospitals, as well as the uncertainty of the war’s duration, any additional funds that are not used for everyday living needs will be put towards possible evacuation needs, as the families feel this is in the best interest for their childrens’ lives.

According to the sources we had available at hand in Gaza, we estimated that before the war, the cost of everyday essentials was approximately $2000USD per month for a family of 5. This number includes rent, food, water, and access to essential transportation. However, the war has made many essential needs inaccessible. For example:

This is approximately a 525% markup for flour, and a 900% markup for potatoes. Due to this inaccessibility and mark up for essential goods, we have approximated that the average cost of living for a family of 5 in Gaza during the war is approximately $5000 USD per month.

Our overall fundraiser goals are based on the needs of 2 families, for a total of 14 people. We are seeking funds to help support these families for 1 year. The following goals of our fundraiser are based on the calculations below:

Our Gratitude:

We understand that this is an incredibly large goal and because of this, we have set the initial goal at $200,000 USD . 100% of the money will be directly wired through bank transfers based in the United States. At the bottom of this email are some additional considerations regarding expenses that the families will need to get back onto their feet.

From one family to another, in the darkest of times, your donation will give two sisters and their children a bright future. Thank you so much for considering your donations. We are all incredibly grateful for your support and prayers.

Barakallahou fik (may Allah bless you)

Your gifts, however large or small, will go to the following needs:

Housing:

Essential Items:

Food & Water:

Medical:

Education:

Personal Identification Documents:

Additional Financial Assistance:

Those are pictures for my nephews and nieces before the war, when they had beautiful houses, school and life. They are currently homeless, lost their houses, toys and facing a major starvation.