Let me introduce you to Sanad Alqarra, a ten-year-old boy who survived an explosion caused by an Israeli bomb that very nearly cost him his life. 

Last April, Sanad was playing with his friends in the street (in eastern Khan Yunis) when an explosion very close to them seriously injured him. Had it not been for the quick assistance of a neighbour, who rushed him to hospital, he would have died. But he survived. During the more than three weeks he spent in the ICU, Sanad fought like a hero: he never complained about anything, even though he was alone most of the time, as visiting hours in the ICU are very strict. Sanad had extremely serious shrapnel wounds to his neck, chest and arms, and underwent very gruelling procedures… 

It was there that I met his father, Shadi, a photographer by profession (now unemployed). His father never left the hospital, even though he could only be with his son twice a day. He slept on the hospital floor, like the rest of the relatives of patients at Nasser Hospital. 

Three weeks after being admitted, Sanad was finally discharged and returned to his partially destroyed home (the Israelis have left hardly a single house standing). Although his body has healed well, his mind still bears the scars of post-traumatic stress from the horrific experience of being bombed and having to spend so much time in the ICU. He has improved in terms of his silence, his sadness and his refusal to go outside, but he still suffers from nightmares at night. Furthermore, his right hand is partially paralysed because a piece of shrapnel still remains in his body, grazing one of the nerves in

his hand. 

Unfortunately, in June Sanad’s family had to move into a tent, as the Israelis forced the entire population of their town, Khan Yunis, to move to a very narrow strip of beach to avoid being bombed. In the displacement camp where he now lives, nearly a million Gazans are crammed together in canvas tents or shacks, with no rubbish collection or sewage system. They have no running water or electricity either. Now, in a three-by-two-metre tent, he lives with his parents and his three brothers. They do not eat enough, far from it. Shadi is drowning in debt, having to repay the money that friends or relatives have lent him so he can put some food on the table for his wife and children. These friends and relatives, in turn, do not have enough money either. It is a constant spiral of hardship and worry. 

I speak to them very often. I’m glad to see that Sanad is doing better, that his state of mind has improved a little. But I’m deeply saddened by the situation they’re living in. That’s why I’ve set up this fundraiser, so that we can help them eat better and, now that winter is approaching, so they can buy some warm clothes, which are extremely expensive. 

Thank you so much for your support. Any help is a huge gift. 

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Let me introduce you to Sanad Alqarra, a ten-year-old boy who survived an explosion caused by an Israeli bomb that nearly cost him his life.

Last April, Sanad was playing with his friends in the street (in eastern Jani Yunis) when a nearby explosion seriously injured him. If it weren’t for the quick assistance of a neighbour, who rushed him to hospital, he would have died. But he survived. For more than three weeks, whilst he was in the ICU, Sanad fought like a hero: he never complained about anything, even though he was mostly alone, as ICU visiting hours are very strict. Sanad had severe shrapnel wounds to his neck, chest and arms, and he underwent very tough procedures...

It was there that I met his father, Shadi, who is a professional photographer (currently unemployed). His father never left the hospital, although he could only be with his son twice a day. He slept on the hospital floor, like the rest of the patients’ family members at Nasser Hospital.

After three weeks in hospital, Sanad was finally discharged and returned to his partially destroyed home (the Israelis left hardly a single house intact). Although his body healed well, his mind still bears the trauma of the horrific experience he endured—being bombed and spending so much time in the ICU. He has improved in terms of his mutism, his sadness, and his reluctance to go outside, but he still suffers from nightmares. Additionally, his right hand is partially paralysed because some shrapnel remains in his body, touching one of the nerves in his hand.

Unfortunately, in June, Sanad’s family had to move into a tent, as the Israelis forced all the residents of their city, Jani Yunis, to relocate to a very narrow strip of beach to avoid being bombed. In the displaced persons camp where they now live, nearly a million Gazans are crammed into tents or shanties, without waste collection or sewage systems. They also lack running water and electricity. Now, in a three-by-two-metre tent, he, his parents, and his three siblings live. They do not eat enough, or much at all. Shadi is overwhelmed with debt, having to repay friends or relatives who lent him money to buy food for his wife and children. These friends or family members, in turn, also do not have enough money. It is all a cycle of hardship and constant worry.

I speak with them very often. I am glad to see that Sanad is better, that his mind is a little clearer. But I am deeply saddened by the situation they are living in. That is why I have started this fundraiser—to help them have better food, and now that winter is approaching, to be able to buy some warm clothing, which is very expensive.

Many thanks for your support. Any help is a tremendous gift.