My name is Nina Gorman from Philadelphia, PA USA, a 67 year old psychotherapist and social science teacher. I am doing this campaign for family of my friends Mahmoud Mohammed (65), Asma Ahmad (55) from Khan Yunis, Gaza   to survive the genocidal  war and hopefully to evacuate to Europe  including the children Ahmad (10),  Massa (16),  Adam (20), Ahmed (6)  and Rosie (22).

   I met them on social media Meta Facebook about 18 months ago during the Gaza war when they shared with me about the culture of Palestine and the difficulties of trying to survive in a genocidal war especially with father Mahmoud suffering from chronic diabetes and kidney failure. Most of the hospitals have been bombed including dialysis units, thus requiring travel with much expense and Mahmoud sometimes going weeks with no dialysis and with much pain. .Mahmoud has sometimes been rushed to hospital on donkey or cart with risk of death and then needs medicines and treatment to survive. 

     Like many in Gaza, the family including the young children have also been sick due to malnourishment and infections  from to the occupation blocking food, water,  medical supplies and  fuel and from their  bombing the water and sewage infrastructure and preventing sanitation collection. Even the sand is contaminated. As of this writing it is very hot in Gaza and with the summer getting hotter with temperatures of close to 95 degrees and with the crowded tent conditions and firewood cooking, about 110 to 120 degrees. The family needs at last one fan and really two and clean drinking water to avoid heat stroke and dehydration.

      Mahmoud, Asma and the children are very hungry with adults going without for days at a time with no food  or even drink so that  the younger children can eat and drink. Due to the blockade there is now mainly only canned food mostly beans available and a little flour and even these are at sky high prices and few community kitchens available.  They are all very scared they will not survive the bombs and the hunger. They have lost their home in bombing and have been displaced many times to escape  and are now staying in Al Mawasi after fleeing bombing in Khan Yunis. Thought designated a safe zone, in Al Mawasi as in Khan Yunis they have seen many men, women, and children killed, burned and maimed and live in constant fear.   I urge you to do whatever you can to share  with the Mahmoud’s family so they can survive and start a new life in Europe free from constant bombs, fear, disease and hunger and so that Mahmoud can get the treatment he desperately needs and so the family can escape the horror and not lose their father. 

  All funds are transferred from my secure USA bank account to the secure PayPal of Mahmoud.

   Here is Mahmoud in his own words.

      My name is Mahmoud Mohammed. I am 65 years old from Khan Yunis, Gaza now displaced with my family in Al Mawasi. I do not like to ask anyone for help since I am proud Palestinian man. However, the occupation has taken everything from us. We have endured many wars and like our displaced ancestors have endured and witnessed much suffering, massacres, displacement and deprivation and even before the war have had to endure without many things we have needed including electricity, clean water, medicines for diabetes, cancer and other chronic diseases even for pain. My wife and I  are tired all the time from weakness and malnourishment and it breaks my heart to be too sick to provide for my family as I used to before the war and before my kidneys failed.  Now there is nothing but starvation, death and destruction all around us,  hearing the cries of children day and night who are hungry and frightened from the endless explosions. We say hello and goodbye to each other and good morning and good night and always wonder if it will be for the last time. What I fear the most is not my own death but rather separation from my children and leaving them alone to suffer from hunger or injury and not be there to provide for them and comfort them. 

   We do not want to leave our land of Palestine, land of our ancestors for thousands of years. It tears my heart but in order for my family to survive Asma and I feel we have no other choice but to leave Gaza to go to Egypt with the children when the crossings open and then to Belgium or possibly Germany to start a new life. We just want a normal life like normal people. We do not aspire for wealth or luxury.  We just want a place to live and some necessities of life and some peace, finally some peace.Anything you can do to help us survive this genocidal war and have respite from constant fear and suffering we would be most grateful. May Allah bless you with a thousand blessings, peace, health and happiness. Mahmoud  

BUDGET

Food to survive for family of six for three months                            ($770per month)  

 Including lentils, hava beans, flour, vegetables including eggplant, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, fruit including apples, bananas, biscuits, greens, cooking oil, sugar, tea nd chicken if again becomes available                                                                               $2310

 Dr visits and Transportation to and from Dialysis                                  $240 

Ointments for rashes and antibiotics for illness for family                  $210

 Tarp for tent to prevent cold, rain and breakage                                 $240

 Wood and fabric to repair and insulate tent                                         $120

 Two Fans for tent                                                                               $180

Battery for charging                                                                                 $250                       

Doctor and dentist visits for family$ 300  

Sheets                                                                                                  $70  

Gas tube to cook$150

Cleaners, soap and shampoo (70 each month)                                     $210

Solar panel for some electrical access$250

Jackets$210

 Pajamas and underwear$260 

 Pants$240

Shirts$ 300

Shoes$240  

Survival in Egypt for family for two months                                           $2400

(1200 a month) for food, water, juices, milk, chicken, beans, flour, noodles, rice, potatoes, fruits, tomatoes, carrots, and greens as well as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and cleaning sprays,

 Clothes for Family in Egypt $700

Rent in Egypt for modest 3 bedroom apartment or house for 2 months $1600

 (800 a month)

Transportation in Egypt including for job search for two months                 $400                                             

Evacuation to Egypt for potential relocation to Europe   

For 4 adults (5000 each)  and for 3 children (2500 each) $27,500  

TOTAL     $38,380

All funds will be transferred from my secure USA bank account to secure PayPal of

  Mahmoud