The desperate plight of Gazans trying to escape the ongoing conflict in the region has led to a surge in online fundraising campaigns, with some raising over $100,000. However, despite reaching their fundraising goals, many account holders have found themselves mired in chaos and confusion as they try to help their loved ones evacuate.
One such fundraiser, a New Jersey woman who wished to remain anonymous, described the situation as “a toss-up” every day. The first challenge faced by those trying to leave Gaza is determining the cost, with prices ranging from $6,000 per person for a 72-hour exit to $12,000 for a 24-hour exit.
Once enough money is raised, the next hurdle is getting the funds into Gaza, a task made difficult by the lack of wire services in the territory. Many people have resorted to using cryptocurrency exchanges or PayPal accounts registered elsewhere. The money is often wired to a relative or friend outside of Gaza, who then travels to Egypt to facilitate the exit process.
The final step involves checking for approval online, with names of approved individuals published daily by the Gaza Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, due to unreliable WiFi and power outages, some people miss their window to exit and have to repeat the entire process, including paying again.
The high cost of evacuation has raised concerns of exploitation, with Hamas accusing individuals and companies of profiting from the suffering of Gazans. Egypt’s Foreign Minister has pledged to investigate these allegations and take action to eliminate any exploitation immediately.
Despite the challenges, the generosity of donors has resulted in large sums being raised to help Gazans escape the conflict. However, the complex and costly process of evacuation highlights the desperate situation faced by those trying to flee the violence in Gaza.
