A cry for life: A young Palestinian family’s struggle for survival

My name is Ahmed Al-Asali.I am 27 years old. I was born in Palestine, Gaza City. On 5th July, 2023, I married after I set up a luxurious home that cost me an arm and a leg, which has unfortunately been burned and destroyed because of the war in Gaza. On 3rd April, 2024, my wife gave birth to our beautiful daughter, Ilaf; she is our life, our whole universe. We love her, and like all people around the world ”we love life”.

We never thought about leaving Gaza, it is our homeland; we have all our childhood memories here, and all our future plans involved us living in Gaza, and raising our family here. The situation in Gaza wasn't perfect, there were many problems people faced, but it was beautiful and it was our home. All our families and most of our friends come from Gaza. We have never lived outside of Gaza,. We have no idea what life outside of Gaza looks like. Reluctantly we will have to leave Gaza to survive, this is being forced upon us if we want to live. Hopefully leaving will only be temporary, we don't know, the only thing we do know is that Gaza is in complete ruins.

I have never asked anyone for help before. I worked hard in school and university to gain my qualifications, and I have worked hard to build up my teaching career, find my wife, who is the love of my life, get married, find a home and start a family. Since 7th October we have lost almost everything we worked hard for. We are now struggling to survive living in a tent, and life become harder as Winter sets in. The only things I have left in my life is my wife and child “ Ilaf “ ; but due to the shortage of food, clean water, medication and the rise of diseases here in Gaza, this could change at any minute. I need your help to save my family, to protect my beautiful daughter Ilaf. I feel shame asking for money because I have always been so independent, but I know I have to swallow my pride to protect my daughter. Please help me give Ilaf the chance to live safely and have a happy, healthy and loving childhood, like every child in the world deserves.

I was living in northern of Gaza then we forced to leave our home and displace to the south of Gaza to save our life. To leave the lux home and live at a simple tent, this was my trying to save my family away from bombs. But the fact there is no safe place here. Difficult conditions, diseases, and famine strike in the displacement environment. I don’t want to see my child suffering here or to get ill as well. 

I do my best to bring the food we need and water for drink, but recently; I dont have the  enough money to do that because of the lack of necessity basic needs and the high price. For example: the price of formula milk for my child reaches 30$ for a tin. Also, the diapers‘ price is 2$ for a piece. Therefore; we used a cloth instead of diapers piece.

This is our struggling to survive that we are still living through. I am asking you to donate and help even if it was a little. This call for help is out of humanity and out of feeling each others. So if anyone can help in anyway. Please, don’t hesitate to do. At the end, I am thankful for every human feels and supports me and my family.