Four Years Apart From My Children — Still Trying to Give Them an Education and a Future
Four years ago, when the war began, I sent my wife and children from Gaza to Egypt. I could not bear seeing them live in fear, so I did everything I could to get them to safety.
My children have now spent years away from school.
Before the war, school was simply a normal part of their lives. They had classrooms, lessons, school bags, friends, and the chance to learn and grow like other children.
This is a photo of my children before the war, when going to school was simply part of their everyday lives:
Today, I am trying to get them back into school and give them a chance to continue their education and build their future.
But their needs are more than I can manage alone.
There are school expenses, rent for a home, clothing, food, medicine, and many other basic needs.
I cannot give my children back the years they have already lost, but I am trying to make sure they do not lose their chance for an education and a better future.
This is one of the most important reasons I am asking for your help.
I Stayed Behind in Gaza
I stayed behind because I could not afford to leave with them.
I never imagined that our separation would last this long.
This is the last photo I have of me with my child before they left Gaza for Egypt at the beginning of the war.
They have grown up far away from me, and today I can only watch them grow and stay connected with them through the internet.
Four years have passed without me being able to hold my children, sit beside them, or share their everyday lives.
We communicate through the internet, but a screen can never replace a father's presence.
The War Has Not Ended for Us
For those outside Gaza, it may sometimes seem that the war is over. But for us, the reality is very different.
We are still living with the destruction around us and under circumstances beyond our control. We continue to struggle every day for basic necessities.
This is me, their father, still in Gaza, surrounded by destruction:
This video shows the shock I experienced when I entered the neighborhood where I live in Rafah and saw what had happened around me:
https://youtube.com/shorts/jjaaWHvA038?si=oKcYk6da4Ixg-Vi6
I Am Trying to Find a Way Out and Reunite With My Family
I am trying every possible way to leave Gaza and reunite with my family.
The latest information I received is that I would need around $15,000 for coordination to leave.
For me, this amount is impossible to provide under these circumstances, especially while I am also struggling with basic needs such as food, rent, clothing, medicine, and my children's education.
I am trapped between a father's desire to reach his children and a financial reality that I cannot overcome alone.
Before and Now
This video shows the difference between my life before the war and my life today — how I was before, and how much my life has changed:
https://www.veed.io/view/078dd46f-efea-4b44-9459-37c5daa4e116?source=landingPage&panel=
Four years of separation and war have changed so much.
My children have grown up away from me, while I remain in Gaza trying to survive, support them, and find a way to be with them again.
Please Help My Family
I am doing everything I can, but I cannot carry all of these costs alone.
Your support can help my children return to school, continue their education, and have a chance at a better future.
It can also help with essential needs such as rent, food, clothing, medicine, and other necessities.
It can also help me move closer to the possibility of leaving Gaza and reuniting with my family.
If you can donate, even a small amount can help.
If you cannot donate, please share our story. A share may reach someone who can help.
Direct Cryptocurrency Support
If you would like to support my family directly through cryptocurrency, you can use the following addresses:
USDT — TRC20
TT2dhYx1VsCUCnanpwP6kTRfF18d8NUiT8
Bitcoin (BTC)
15SaZFzRQpmxFjY17EhY4LnUstvbGjGhaE
Please make sure that USDT is sent specifically through the TRC20 network.
Support My Family Through Chuffed
https://www.chuffed.org/project/150349-urgent-aid-for-the-survival-of-the-al-saidi-family-from-gaza
Thank you for taking the time to read our story, for supporting my family, and for sharing our situation with others.
Every donation and every share can help my children continue their education and give them a chance at a future.