Walaa & Family Get Out Of Gaza
Donation protected
Fundraising on behalf of Walaa who we have met whilst working in Cairo.
Walaa's story:
Greetings, I am Walaa Al-Muhtaseb, a dreamer whose aspirations remain unfulfilled, marking her 25th birthday amidst the Israeli bombardment in Gaza, Palestine. The turmoil of the city's war forced my family and me to evacuate our home, leaving behind the neighborhood where I had spent 25 years, now reduced to rubble.
In an attempt to secure assistance for leaving Gaza and shield my family from the relentless Israeli airstrikes, potential hunger, thirst, or the perils of contaminated water, I sought help. Regrettably, my efforts proved unsuccessful.
My sizable family, comprising 19 members, faces daunting challenges. From my mother Wafaa, whom I strive to protect, to my father Medhat, who lost businesses, a clothing factory, and two homes, each member, including siblings Ahmed, Alaa, and Mohammed with his wife and two children, sister Duaa with her husband and four children, and my stepmother and special-needs siblings, is grappling with adversity.
Having weathered approximately seven wars, this one proves to be the most formidable. I never envisioned a day when we would lose everything and be displaced into the unknown. Living as displaced individuals, we scour for essentials to survive each day amid what feels like the worst times imaginable.
Both my parents suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, leaving all of us physically and emotionally drained and experiencing a horrible situation in the middle of the war.
We have been displaced from our home since October 13.
It's extremely hard to explain our situation and feelings.
Losing tens of friends, colleagues, and neighbors, living in a tent with no clean water, food, or medicine.
Enduring the pain of food poisoning several times without ever receiving treatment
We live in a severe situation, with bombings in our neighborhood every day.
This is Malak, the daughter of my nephew, the darling of my heart, and the daughter I didn't give birth to. She calls me 'Mommy.' I never imagined seeing her tired like this, her smile faded. The six-year-old girl appears as if she has aged twenty years. When I talk to her, she speaks about the war and the South and the North, and why we're displaced here. And when I want to buy her the sweets she loves, she says, 'No, I don't want it because it's expensive, and there are many hungry children.' My heart aches deeply. How can a little girl refuse to buy what she loves and think in this way?
She always asks me why we live in this torment, why we can't travel abroad. I told her that we need a lot of money. I jokingly said to her, 'What do you think about you and me traveling alone?' She remained silent for a moment, then said, 'And what about my dad and mom?' I told her there isn't enough money. She said, 'Then let's live together or die together.' At that moment, I realized she had aged a hundred years beyond her age.
The losses in Gaza extend beyond dear relatives and friends to everything we own. Our home now lies shattered. Yet, we remind ourselves that material possessions aren't paramount, echoing "Alhamdulillah, wealth can be replaced." Nevertheless, a lingering ache persists, a pain indescribable that tightens our hearts.
Remaining in Gaza is no longer feasible. Expressing this reality brings heartbreak, and tears fill my eyes, but it is an unavoidable truth. Despite our earnest desire to end the war and return to Gaza, the question arises: What Gaza awaits our return? No intact homes, essential services, hospitals, schools, or streets remain. Gaza has transformed into ashes, with bodies strewn on the ground. To which Gaza do we hope to return?
The hope is to return to Gaza someday soon, but for now, survival necessitates departure. The sole route is through the Egyptian border, specifically via the Rafah crossing. However, leaving through Rafah demands a current payment of $5,000 per person, a cost escalating daily, with no assurance of success.
I aspire to aid my family, and seeking your support stands as my sole recourse before facing irreversible losses.
It might be the first time I write this, but I need your support to help us move to a safer place, I would highly appreciate your kind support and help.
With my sincere thanks,
Walaa
Fundraising team (4)
Amerah Saleh
Organizer
Aisha Riaz Khan
Team member
Mugheesa Ahmed
Team member
Walaa Almuhtaseb
Team member