Former UEA Norwich student flees war in Palestine to Egypt

Alaa Shatila, 28, lived in Norwich for a year between 2021 and 2022 while she studied for a master's in Global Social Development.

"I applied for a scholarship and the UEA is the only university that offered the exact degree I wanted to study," she explained, speaking from Egypt.

Alaa Shatila lived in Norwich between 2021 and 2022 (Image: Alaa Shatila)

"Both the course and living in Norwich were wonderful.

"I liked it so much.

"It was so calm and relaxing, and the people were so nice."

Alaa returned to her family home in Gaza in December 2022, after completing the degree, where she lived with her mother, father, four sisters and younger brother.

It wasn't long before their lives were left in tatters though.

Alaa's family was caught in the bombing in Gaza (Image: Alaa Shatila)

On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led militant groups launched a surprise attack on Israel, igniting a conflict that has led to the deaths of thousands of people.

"I survived by chance," said Alaa.

"Last October I was at a conference in Jordan - I was working with Action Aid at the time.

"To get back to Palestine I had to travel through Egypt, as there are no airports in Gaza.

"I was there when the war broke out, and I became stuck."

Alaa's family, however, were trapped across the border, in Gaza.

Their home was bombed on December 15.

"My family should be dead," she said.

"My dad and two of my sisters were caught up in some of the bombing.

"They were just in the right place to avoid dying.

"My dad suffered a bad head injury and a wall fell on my sisters.

"They were pulled out of the rubble by my dad and crews from the ambulance service, and they were taken to hospital for treatment."

Alaa's father suffered a serious head injury during the bombing (Image: Alaa Shatila)

Alaa was stuck apart from her family for four months while war raged, desperately hoping that her family would survive so that she could get them to safety.

In February, her family made the dangerous crossing from the south of Gaza to the Rafah Crossing, and into Egypt.

READ MORE: Striking factory workers secure fresh pay offer after taking to the picket line

"I was terrified for them," she said.

"If I hadn't been in Egypt, they wouldn't have had a chance of getting across the border.

"We were charged thousands of pounds for each member of my family that needed to get across, which was a huge problem because we had to raise the money.

"My sister, who is studying for a PhD in Economics at Brunel University in London, and I pooled our savings and, along with some donations from family and friends, managed to raise the money."

Alaa's home was destroyed in the bombing (Image: Alaa Shatila)

Now, Alaa and her family are living in Cairo, where they cannot find work and are struggling to pay their rent, buy basic necessities and get schooling for her 12-year-old brother.

"We have an unknown future," Alaa said.

"We spend all day and night watching the news, but the situation is only getting worse.

READ MORE: 'Bizarre situation' as nearly 100 more homes set for city and STILL no school

"Even when the war ends, we cannot go back to Gaza. It is unliveable there. There is nothing left.

"We are stuck here.

"We are really struggling."

Alaa 'loved' living in Norwich as a student (Image: Alaa Shatila)

Alaa tried to apply for a visa to get her family to the USA but was unsuccessful.

Now, she has started doing embroidery which she is hoping to sell to some of her designs to the tourists who pass through Cairo, having tried unsuccessfully for months to secure a job in Egypt's capital.

Alaa has launched a GoFundMe to raise the funds to move her family to another country, where they can work and live safely.