I am Ahmad, a Palestinian from Gaza City and a father of two children. I live in the besieged northern part of Gaza. Since the beginning of the war on October 7th, our lives have been filled with chaos and despair, marking the start of our displacement. We have faced immense difficulties in our daily lives, striving to meet the basic needs for a decent life amidst the destruction and rubble, while rockets fall mercilessly, leaving no place in our city untouched. The war has besieged us by land, sea, and air, leaving us with no option but to seek safety and salvage what remains of our bleak lives.

I had a job, a warm home, and a stable life until that night when we were forced to evacuate our neighborhood after continuous bombardment. We left our home, thinking we would return in a week, leaving behind everything we owned, our dreams, and our memories. We moved to an area that the occupier claimed was safe, but there is no safe place. We moved from place to place until we reached the far south in Rafah, where we received the news that our home had been destroyed.

After seven months, we have not been able to return to the north. We have slept in the homes of relatives and strangers, in shops, tents, and schools. It is a miracle that we are still alive. Life here has become impossible, with prices rising tenfold, and everything has become exhausting to obtain. Since the beginning of the war, there has been no income for the family. If we want to cook anything, we have to light a fire, which is dangerous with children around. Our health has deteriorated; we suffer from malnutrition and weight loss. It is difficult to provide diapers and milk for our daughter, who has developed a skin disease that I have not been able to treat for four months, in addition to the effects of malnutrition, lack of bathing, poor hygiene, and contaminated water.

We have endured days of indescribable hunger, thirst, and cold. To travel and escape with just our lives without receiving a single dollar, the only route is through the Rafah crossing next to Egypt. To do this, we are asked to pay $5000 for each person over 16 years old and $2500 for those under 16. All this money goes entirely to the Egyptian side of the crossing. Unfortunately, this is an exploitation of our suffering.

Before it is too late, I hope you can extend a helping hand to us so that we can find a safe place to live far from the hell of war, a place that can protect my children.
Family names and ages

.Ahmed: 30
.Eman: 29
.Zain : 5
.Leen : 2.5