GoFundMe Relief Fund for Moamen Ibrahim
I'm reaching out urgently to shed light on a distressing reality unfolding in Gaza.
I've personally connected with Moamen Ibrahim thanks to a friend and colleague who’s working tirelessly to help him and others.
He’s a young man, barely 22, whose life has been irrevocably altered by the recent war on Gaza. Through our conversations, I've witnessed firsthand the dire circumstances he faces.
You can find the donation link HERE.
Maomen's aspirations in IT at Al-Azhar University were abruptly halted by the outbreak of war. His once vibrant life, filled with the camaraderie of friends at the gym and the pride of working in his brother's bakery, now lies in ruins.
As of now, he and his family eke out a precarious existence in a makeshift tent by the sea, a painful testament to the absence of safety and security in Gaza.
What is his life like in Gaza?
In our discussions, Maomen has painted a stark picture of the devastation wreaked upon his homeland. According to him, over 50,000 lives have been lost, the vast majority of whom are women and children, with another 15-20,000 people still unaccounted for. The toll of illness and infections running rampant due to poor preserved foods, malnutrition and inaccessible drinking water, not to mention the complete absence of a functioning draining and waste system, has surpassed well over 100,000 (I'm assuming in his area), a staggering figure that underscores the magnitude of the crisis.
Amidst the vast expanse of sand, juxtaposed against the backdrop of the sea, a multitude of tents, some of which are made merely of rags, dot the landscape—a stark testament to both resilience and despair in the midst of adversity.
Here, in this unforgiving environment, Moamen showed us via video call their makeshift shelters.
Inside, the air is thick with the aroma of cooking and wafting steam, as families prepare their meagre meals with whatever is available - it's worth to note that people have resorted to using sea water for cooking and that the process of cooking inside these tents is hazardous. Multiple socket strips, tethered to generators, serve as a lifeline, providing the vital energy needed to charge their cell phones.
Outside, a queue forms, as dozens individuals patiently await their turn to fill their cans with precious potable water—a resource as scarce as it is indispensable in this harsh imposed conditions.
His firsthand experience, coupled with the stark realities of his living situation, demands immediate action. The suffering in Gaza cannot be overlooked or dismissed. We must stand in solidarity with Maomen and the countless others enduring unimaginable hardship, rallying support and resources to alleviate their plight.
His personal GoFundMe donation rally has surpassed the milestone of $3,000.
This outpouring of support signifies the solidarity of compassionate people from around the world, rallying behind a cause fuelled by empathy and a shared desire for change.
However, it’s not enough — To secure a path to safety and a chance at a brighter future, Moamen needs to reach the 5,000$ quota at the very least.
The Rafah crossing, a lifeline to freedom as it’s the only way out as of Gaza, remains shuttered and occupied by the IOF.
With each passing day, the stakes grow higher, and the need for action becomes more urgent: like so many others, he requires financial aid to survive, as the costs of basic necessities, even drinking water, have reached shocking heights.
The IOF is currently targeting males
Why Maomen? The IOF as of now are mercilessly targeting men, adolescents, and even mere boys, barely out of childhood, on the presumption of their affiliation with Hamas: there are distressing reports on this, both internally and from news sources outside of the enclave. This approach not only violates basic human rights but also perpetuates a cycle of extreme violence, suffering and discrimination. It’s supposedly an imperative for all parties involved to adhere to international humanitarian law and prioritise the protection of civilians, regardless of their age or gender, but we’ve all seen the IOF’s modus operandi.
Moamen is a young man, just 22 years of age, thrust into the heart of this turmoil, his dreams and aspirations eclipsed by the brutal machinery of war. He's just an average person who wanted a simple life, someone like you who's reading this. He wants to become a developer and have a family. That's it: he's just an average guy who wanted to complete his studies and live a normal life, in peace.
With each passing day, he navigates a perilous existence, haunted by the constant threat of death and violence, the innocence of his youth stripped away by the relentless onslaught. These egregious actions committed by the IOF not only trample upon the sanctity of human rights but plunge us deeper into the abyss of despair and destruction.
I can’t help but underscore the significance of preserving the lives of Palestinian males and male youth amidst the chaos of conflict. Their lives matter just as much as anyone else's. As we rally for justice and humanitarian intervention, we must not forget the plight of the male youth of Gaza.
They too are victims of this senseless violence, and their voices must be heard and their lives protected.
It's incumbent upon us to advocate for their safety and well-being, to ensure that they are not overlooked or disregarded in the pursuit of peace and justice. Each life lost, regardless of gender, is a tragedy that cannot be ignored.
Note: if you can't donate, please share and spread the message. Moamen just contacted me, the beach he's living on has just been hit by extremely strong winds that destroyed half of the tents in his area.
