Urgent: Help Shmily survive the Gaza War

Hi everyone, my name is Manon Hessels and I live in Los Angeles, California. I first met Shmily (pronounced as Shèmly) and her family through a mutual friend. Shmily in Nuseirat, Gaza will be the recipient of all funds raised. I receive the funds in my bank account & will then transfer them through a wire from my bank account to Shmily’s brother-in-law Mohammed Almzainy’s bank account. He transfers the money to Shmily. So far we have done this 3 times for a total of $6,000. There were no issues and Shmily has received all funds. This has helped her and her family to buy food and get passports.

These are the family members I am raising the money for:

Shatha Al-Badrasawi (AKA Shmily)

Mohammed Al-Badrasawi (brother)

Sujood Al-Badrasawi (sister)

Hala Al-Badrasawi (mom) 

Jehad Ismail Al-Badrasawi (dad)

I’m fundraising for my dear friend Shmily and her family. I’m personally in contact with Shmily on a daily basis. We call, send texts and leave voice messages, photos, and keep each other updated. I am in direct contact with 9 people in her family. I want to help them survive the War on Gaza, escape as soon as the crossing opens, and get the medical care and help they need to start a life in safety until they can return to Gaza. Every single dollar matters and is very much appreciated!! Please consider to donate and share this life saving campaign. Even if your budget is low, or you have other causes to focus on, still $5 will make a big difference! Especially if many people do it!!

Shmily is 24yo accounting graduate as well as an aspiring artist. She is sheltering with her 13yo brother Mohammed (who would love to be a soccer player), her 22yo sister Sujood (in university to be a dentist), and her parents Hala & Jehad. Sheltering with them are also her sister Shahd, with her husband Mohammed and their 4mo old baby Heba. They joined Shmily after their house in North Gaza was completed destroyed.

After many bombings in Nuseirat near Shmily’s home, the family fled to the refugee camp in Rafah for several months. Until Rafah camp was bombed and they fled again. They went back to their damaged house in Nuseirat. There they live in the middle of numerous massacres, amongst which the bombings of the UNRWA schools and the June 8th Nuseirat Refugee Camp Massacre. 

With death and destruction right outside their house, and quad copters and planes surrounding the area 24/7, it is not safe for Shmily and her family to go outside. Of course they still need to find food and supplies, which now have exorbitant prices. Both parents need medical care that is currently not available. Shmily’s dad suffers from a herniated disc in his neck and was on many painkillers a day, but now has to do without. Her mom suffers from nerve damage. They need treatment badly. 

Once the crossing opens, there are also exorbitant costs to get into Egypt. This will cost $5,000-$8,000 per person! And then of course the costs of the rental of a place to stay, medical care etc. We are trying to help them to get the supplies they need right now to stay alive, and the funds to evacuate to Egypt. 

How it works: they can not set up their own fundraiser from Gaza. It has to be done from one of the limited countries GFM works with. I can do it because I live in the USA. I will receive the funds and I transfer the money to Shmily’s family through a bank to bank wire. Previously, their only family outside of Gaza ran their campaign, but Sweden does not support transfers to Gaza anymore. So I am now starting a new campaign. However, the funds raised on the old campaign are still being rerouted to Shmily and her family, so no funds were lost!

Cost breakdown:

$6,000= living & supplies in Gaza 

$30,000 = 5 people crossing the border

$2,000= medical treatment parents

$3,000= rent for 4 months 

$3,000= Sujood finishing university 

$4,000= Shmily restarting her career

$2,000= estimated GFM fees

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$50,000 TOTAL

“Thank you for your generosity, and may your kindness serve as a guiding light in our darkest hour.” ~Shmily