Urgent - Help Ahmed and his nieces & nephews survive in Gaza

I'm Ahmed Jahjooh, a 22-year-old from Gaza. I'm reaching out because I need your help to survive - and to feed my nieces and nephews, including my 3-year-old niece Dema who is paralyzed. Since October 7, last year, I have lost everything. The recent attacks in North Gaza have been the worst days since the beginning of this awful war. Each day I fear we may die.

I miss my old life. I miss my family. The war has taken everything. First, my home and my father's workplace were destroyed. And then, the worst happened—my mom, one of my brothers, and his wife and children were killed in an airstrike.

My mother, Anam, is buried in my heart.

Now, I am living with my injured dad and four of my nieces and nephews, including my little 3-year-old niece Dema, who is paralyzed in her legs. We are just trying to survive this nightmare.

Football has always been my passion - I am a goalie. When I was 16, I had the opportunity to visit Ireland with Gaza Action Ireland. I would love to return there someday.

Even with bombs dropping in the distance, my friends and I still try to play football. We distract ourselves from this war through our love for our beautiful sport.

We are always hungry. Many days we have nothing to eat or try to make “bread” from grass and dry grains. Food is a luxury, and I rely on this fundraiser to survive. Flour is $90 for 5 lbs (if we can find any!) meat is $45 per lb, and one carton of eggs is more than $70.

I'm asking for your support to help me survive this and to feed my dad and my four nieces and nephews who live with me. Any donation, big or small, will help me and my father get the essentials to live and get food for the kids, and find a way out of this hell.

My friend Mikhaela Reid, who is Jewish-Irish American, is helping by running this page for me. She will transfer the funds from this campaign to me regularly and keep everyone updated on my situation. She has verified my fundraiser with support from the Pal Collective mutual aid network, which was started by comedian Sammy Obeid.

Your kindness and support mean everything to me. Thank you for listening, and bless you for any help you can give. Mikhaela will share my updates here on my situation.

Love,

Ahmed Jahjooh

P.S. The Pal Collective verified me through a structured method, which includes real-time video calls, official ID check, and in-person validation of my whereabouts and circumstances. I am happy to participate because it is a matter of honor for me, and I always want to make my mother and her memory proud.

About Mikhaela Reid:

I'm a Jewish-Irish-American artist, activist, and mother of two living in Brooklyn, New York. I believe strongly in the power of mutual aid, community, and solidarity. I became friends with Ahmed through the Pal Collective mutual aid network. Please give as generously as you can to help this young man and his father survive the unimaginable. If my son were ever in the same situation, I would hope people would help him the same way.

I will regularly transfer funds to Ahmed Jahjooh for this campaign through Western Union and update you on his situation. Thank you so much.