Discover and support Gaza fundraisers

I am Shaimaa. I graduated from Al-Quds Open University with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Auditing with distinction. I continued my studies to obtain a Master's degree, but unfortunately, my joy at completing my studies was not fulfilled. The Gaza war caused my lifelong dream to collapse before my eyes, and I was unable to continue with it. I faced significant difficulties in my studies, so I was forced to stop my Master's journey. I worked in charity work in addition to my job in an accounting office. My life changed completely when our house was bombed for the first time in December 2024. My father developed chronic high blood pressure due to his intense grief over his home, his factory, and his family. He also suffered from sinusitis due to the internationally banned phosphorus fires. He also contracted hepatitis due to living in tents. My father owned a large factory in the Gaza Strip, both import and export, and he worked in trade, traveling to Arab and foreign countries for business purposes. However, he lost his beautiful home and factory in the blink of an eye, and he no longer owned anything. My mother suffered from severe lower back pain due to a herniated disc in the fifth and sixth vertebrae.  My mother needed surgery outside the Gaza Strip to relieve the pain caused by carrying water for long distances. From that moment on, I became the sole breadwinner for my family—my father and mother, my brothers Adel, Shadi, and Abdullah, and my sister, a doctor who volunteers at the Arab Ahli Hospital.
I lived a life filled with peace of mind, passion, energy, and commitment. I had dreams and ambitions, and an educational and professional journey that I wanted to pursue. But this devastating and brutal war came, shattering my dreams and turning my life into ashes.
The sound of explosions became part of our daily lives. I live with my family in a dilapidated tent, unfit for habitation, with more than 10 people living in each tent. We lost more than 50 members of my family due to the war. My family faced enormous hardships, the most difficult of which was at the beginning of the war when we received the horrific news of the loss of my cousin, a doctor, and my cousin, a journalist. My uncle and his sons were erased from the civil registry. The tragedy was unimaginable, and we lost friends and neighbors we loved. Our home was completely destroyed, and my father's factory, our main source of income, was destroyed.  Life here is not life. There is hardly any electricity, and water is scarce and undrinkable. Work is almost impossible due to the blockade, and every day is a struggle to secure food and medicine. But what hurts me most is that my dreams and my brothers' lives are fading before our eyes, and we are powerless to do anything. I launched this campaign because I want to give my family a chance at life. I want to get them out of this hell we're living in, to a place where we can dream of a better future. I want to see my brothers smile without fear, and to live my life as a young woman, able to achieve my dreams without being restricted by the sounds of bombs or the restrictions of the blockade.
Overcoming the daily struggles of displacement, fear, and danger makes it even more difficult.
I won't elaborate. The Israeli army threatened our home and asked us to leave for the southern Gaza Strip. We fled to Rafah, living in a tent without electricity, gas, clean water, or food. Constant displacement in Rafah, searching for clean food whenever it was available, and constantly seeking safe haven were part of our reality.  This war has not only destroyed our homeland, but it has also affected our physical and mental health. I have lost not only my source of income, but also my sense of security and comfort. This has left us vulnerable and on the brink of collapse.
My transition from an accounting office employee at the Ministry of Finance to someone searching for basic necessities like firewood is a stark example of the radical changes that war can bring. The challenges of displacement, rising prices, and difficulty accessing basic resources further exacerbate the hardships my family faces.
Life in the South, as we have described, is not just difficult; it is an ongoing ordeal. The constant exposure to danger, the challenges of displacement, and the spread of diseases due to the lack of vaccines and medicines all exacerbate the difficulties we face, forcing us to adapt to an unimaginable life.
Any support, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in our lives. Every donation is a step toward saving my family and giving us a chance to live with dignity and security. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has read my story and opened their hearts to support us. You are our hope for better days.  I am reaching out to you with an urgent request in light of these difficult circumstances that have radically changed my life and the lives of my family. By sharing our story, I hope we can find support and assistance during these trying times, facing unimaginable hardships.
As you know, leaving Gaza is extremely costly. I count on your generosity to donate to my fundraising campaign and share my story with your friends. With your cooperation, this campaign could be a lifeline for my family to escape the clutches of war and pave a new path toward a safe and bright future.