A Bournemouth woman is asking the public to help her family who are stuck in Gaza living in a tent. 

Walaa Alhendi, who moved to Bournemouth a year and a half ago from Gaza, has asked the public to help her family receive basic essentials after their house in Northern Gaza was bombed and the family displaced.

Walaa says her family are living in a tent in Rafah and are in urgent need of assistance as a result of events following Hamas launching an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

She said: "It's been tough being far away from my family. I'm thinking all the time about my family, if they're still alive, if they are hungry. They don't have shelter, they have no life at the moment. 

"There's bombings everywhere and there is rain and wind all the time as they are in winter so it makes me worry all the time so I found this is the only way I can help them."

Walaa's brother, Ahmed Alhendi, was an accountant before the bombings began last year. 

Displaced and unable to work, he and the rest of his family, including his three children, wife, parents and his brother's family, now live together in poor conditions. 

Walaa said: "It was very hard to begin with, I could get in touch with my family once every 10 days and sometimes I couldn't reach them at all. 

"I send them money and they are able to buy food, supplies, basic needs, medicine for my father who is sick and needs a lot of treatment. Everyone one of my brothers have two or three kids and this money goes to food, basic needs, and nappies."

Walaa has raised £5,000 and hopes to raise £40,000 so the family can rebuild themselves once the bombing has stopped.

Ahmed lost his savings when his house was bombed.

Walaa said: "I'd like to thank those who have already donated, they have made me thing there is still humanity in the world and every penny will be used for the wellbeing of my family."

To donate, visit Walaa's GoFundMe.