January 17th 2024.
In the southern Gaza Strip, along the beach in Deir el-Balah, Palestinian women can be seen washing their clothes with sea water. This is due to the lack of fresh water and electricity in the area. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in a dire humanitarian situation, with basic necessities such as food, water, and sanitary items in short supply.
Amidst this crisis, women and girls are facing additional challenges. With limited access to period products, many are resorting to using scraps of tent material, risking infection and further discomfort. Displaced from their homes and forced to seek shelter in overcrowded areas, these women and girls are facing catastrophic conditions.
Action Aid, a humanitarian organization, has reported that women in the southern city of Rafah are cutting out small pieces of their tents to use as substitutes for period products. One staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her personal experience of being displaced three times and having no access to water or sanitary pads during her period. The lack of water also makes it difficult for women to keep clean, with some going weeks without showering.
The situation in Rafah, which now hosts over a million displaced people, has become a humanitarian disaster. The streets have turned into open-air latrines and rubbish piles cover the city. With limited access to toilets and no privacy, the living conditions are extremely difficult.
As the conflict continues, the humanitarian disaster only worsens. Israeli attacks on Khan Younis have resulted in damage to a field hospital, as reported by the Jordanian army. They hold Israel responsible for this "flagrant breach of international law." Another hospital, Nasser, was also forced to evacuate as Israeli tanks approached the area.
In the midst of this chaos, women and girls are bearing the brunt of the humanitarian crisis. With limited access to basic necessities and the constant threat of violence, their suffering is only deepening. It is essential that the international community takes action to address the dire situation in Gaza and provide much-needed aid to those affected by the conflict.
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