Lana from Gaza: A Voice from the Rubble
This article by Lana Mohanad is part of a series highlighting voices from Gaza, supported by Feijoa Dispatch and FightBack.
My name is Lana. I am an engineer from Gaza, living a reality that words often fail to capture. My life is not just a tale of pain and loss, but a testament to human resilience against unimaginable odds. From the moment I was born, my existence has been intertwined with a land under siege, a people enduring the daily agony of losing loved ones, destruction, and deprivation of the most basic human rights. Before the latest war, my life was full of hope and ambition. I was studying engineering at Al-Azhar University with big dreams for my future. I envisioned contributing to building a better community and securing a brighter future for my family. But the war shattered everything. Losing Home and Homeland. In October, our home— we rebuilt after it was destroyed in the 2014 war using a loan we spent ten years repaying—was bombed, reduced to rubble once again. I lost everything: the memories etched into every corner, the photographs preserving the faces of my loved ones, and the small nook where I used to dream and write.
The destruction of our home wasn’t the only loss. My father was severely injured, with shrapnel lodged in his lungs. I narrowly escaped with my life, miraculously avoiding becoming another victim pulled from the rubble. Now, my family of six lives in a tent, seeking warmth and solace amidst the devastation.
The Invisible Pain
War doesn’t only inflict physical wounds; it leaves behind scars no one can see. I contracted hepatitis due to malnutrition and the lack of clean water and sanitation. My husband was gravely injured, and despite it all, we are trying to survive. Words cannot describe the pain of witnessing the despair in the eyes of my siblings and children every day.
Why Am I Fundraising?
At first, I was hesitant and ashamed to ask for help. I often apologized, feeling like a burden to others. But after everything I’ve endured, I’ve come to realize that asking for help is not a weakness—it’s a right for anyone facing the unbearable.
I am fundraising to provide basic needs for my family and to cover my father’s medical treatment, which we cannot afford. My younger siblings dream of nothing more than a warm meal and a blanket to protect them from the cold.
Dreams That Won’t Die
Despite everything, I haven’t given up. I am currently studying for my high school exams in the literary stream after pausing my university education. I believe education is my only weapon against injustice.
I dream of the day I can return to university and give my siblings a chance at a better life. I dream of a new home—not just bricks and mortar but a place we can once again call "home."
A Humanitarian Appeal
My story is not unique; it is the voice of hundreds of thousands in Gaza. We don’t ask for the impossible; we only seek a dignified life, a basic right for every human being.
To everyone reading this, please remember that your support is more than just a donation—it is a seed of hope planted in the heart of someone who has lost everything.
In Conclusion
I am Lana, writing these words from my small tent, but my heart carries immense faith that kindness still exists in this world. These words may be a cry for help, but they are also a message of hope and resilience.
If you are able to help, know that your contribution will make a significant difference, not only in my life but also in the lives of my family and loved ones. Thank you to everyone who hears my voice and answers my call.
You can support Lana’s fundraiser here.