A Mother’s Plea from Gaza: Help Us Survive War, Hunger, and Displacement

My name is Umm Islam, and I am a mother of four — three daughters and my youngest, Islam. I’m writing to you from Gaza, where our home was destroyed in the early days of the genocide.

Since then, our lives have been a daily struggle for survival.

My baby Islam urgently needs milk and diapers. I suffer from a chronic illness — I had my thyroid removed and need lifelong medication. My daughters and I also have severe anemia and need vitamins and basic nutrition. But right now, even that is out of reach.

We are living in a rented home, but the rent has been piling up for over a year. We were forced to flee our original neighborhood because it became too dangerous — it’s near the border. For months, we lived in a tent exposed to the brutal heat and freezing cold. Diseases spread quickly in the unsanitary conditions.

When we finally returned to our home, the landlord gave us a harsh choice: pay the rent or be evicted. Rent is £250 per month — a price we simply cannot afford.

We haven’t had cooking gas for over three months. We now burn wood to cook, and the smoke has caused me serious breathing issues. There’s no clean water to drink. Food is unaffordable — the crossings are closed, bakeries have shut down, and the price of flour is unimaginable.

I can’t meet even the most basic needs for my children — no food, no clean water, no safe shelter.

Please, I am asking for your help — not for me, but for my children. Your donation can help us:

🍼 Provide milk and diapers for baby Islam
💧 Access clean drinking water and daily food
🔥 Replace firewood with cooking gas for safe meals
💊 Access medication, vitamins, and basic healthcare
👗 Buy summer clothes for my children
🏠 Pay overdue rent and avoid being evicted

Even the smallest donation can bring light into our darkest days. My children are hungry, they are cold, and they are frightened. Please, stand with us.

With deep gratitude and hope,
Umm Islam