Urgent: Help Osama Feed his Family Trapped in Gaza

Hello friends, my name is Allison Hull, I am from California. I am fundraising to support my dear friend Osama (insta: Osama.badwan_96), who is trapped, along with the 10 additional members of his family, in a dangerous area of Gaza where food is expensive and aid is increasingly limited.

Thank you for taking the time to read his story. My hope is that you will make a donation, which will allow Osama to feed his family and address any additional emergencies that may arise. All contributions will be used to:

-Feed a family of 11 people, their names and ages are listed below

-Address a pressing dental concern Osama has been experiencing

-Address any additional issues that impact the family's health and safety

When we first met, life in his area of Gaza was difficult but he was coping. As time has passed, and I've watched him struggle to feed his family and manage a variety of typical life events, my concern has steadily increased. He has lost noticeable weight and is experiencing health issues associated with malnutrition.

Yesterday, I decided to convince him to allow me to set up this GoFundMe, because I found out that he had not really eaten for two days, to make sure that the children in his family were fed. He is reluctant to take this step, as he hoped to protect the children's dignity, but food prices are so high that I cannot contribute enough to feed a family of 11 on my own. He has reluctantly agreed to allow me to move forward, as his concern regarding his family is increasing. He is also very hungry.

Please read the details below and make a donation to bring some stability into this family's life. We are so grateful for every donation and are honored to have your support.

Osama's Story

Osama Badwan lives in the Gaza Strip with his family of eleven members. Sadly, his father recently passed away, and as the eldest son, he is the primary breadwinner for his family. The family does not currently have any source of income, as finding employment is difficult at this time. Osama's mother, siblings, and their children currently live at a school, because their house was bombed. They have been displaced several times. They were forced to evacuate from the school at one point because there were threats that the school would be bombed. They traveled to Rafah and lived in a camp for the displaced for a period, but when the Rafah invasion became a huge concern, the decision was made to return to the school. As you may have heard, there is no place safe in Gaza.

Osama has spoken eloquently about how his experiences in the war have been very painful, and he's agreed to allow me to share. Much of this pain stems from living in a cold, damp tent in the rain, fear while witnessing phosphorus bombs and more rain down from the sky, and now the lack of food. He talks about being stripped of humanity and a sense of life, and this is all brought on by the horror of the war. The pain is not limited to the physical sensations he experiences, but it is psychological as well. Witnessing the death and destruction all around him, while trying to protect the children of his family, has taken its toll.

Osama wrote appeal, and he asked me to share his words here:

I recently realized that there were no longer any options left for me to support my family here and keep them safe, because the situation in Gaza is very dangerous.

My father died a short time ago. I am the oldest young man in my family and I have no financial income. I am the breadwinner of this poor family. My mother suffers from a chronic illness while my family is in school.

Unfortunately, I lost everything in this war. The house I was living in was bombed and I was left empty-handed.

Two months ago, the Israeli army threatened the school where my family and I were displaced, so we had to evacuate and leave. We built a tent in the camp for displaced people in Rafah, and now we live in a tent in the rain and cold air. We are displaced with every threat and we fear the worst will happen soon.

My experience in this war was very painful. We have been stripped of all forms of humanity and life. Instead of seeing fireworks lighting up our skies, we see phosphorus bombs and drones. We sleep with fear and constant bombing around us. There was not a single night of peace, since the beginning of this war.

Instead of seeing little children smiling, I see children shedding tears and pain. Everyone in Gaza is hurting, old and young. Children here cry instead of laughing. Happiness has been erased from Gaza. Families have been torn apart. Everyone around me is dying and even my help is not enough.

We are targeted anywhere and everywhere. My family's safety is not guaranteed. All supplies are dwindling. Gaza is dying and everyone here is just a dead man walking. No one sees my pain. I must put a smile on for the world and for the children. I see. I have seen all the horrors this war has brought on our people. Palestinian mothers cry for their martyred sons, their widowed wives, and their orphaned children. Air strikes and bombing are approaching us. We in Gaza are accustomed to this life of pain. The only new thing now is the different artillery used against us.

Osama's Family

The decision to create this GoFundMe has been very difficult for the family. Osama is acting as the face of the campaign, and it was agreed that a limited number of photos of the children would be appropriate. What we do want you to know, are the names and ages of the family, so you can build and image in your mind. Osama's family consists of the following members:

Adults of the family:

Osama's mother: Mona Badwan, 50

Osama's sister: Nabila Badwan, 32

Osama's sister: Abeer Badwan, 30

Osama: Osama Badwan, 28

Osama's sister: Haneen Badwan, 26

Osama's brother: Tariq Badwan, 21

Children of the family:

Wael Al-Tahrawi, 13

Jana Al-Tahrawi, 11

Aisha Al-Tahrawi, 9

Jinan Al-Tahrawi, 7

Roaa Al-Tahrawi, 4

Thank you for taking the time to read this appeal for support. Every dollar will go toward helping the family survive. I believe in the power of mutual aid, and our friends in Gaza need our support right now. Osama thanks you as well and we are both grateful that he will have the opportunity to survive, God willing. Please consider making a donation, and sharing the GFM would also be greatly appreciated.