Supporting Menstrual Hygiene for women of Gaza

Help in supporting Menstrual Hygiene for women of Gaza

"I was forced to tear a piece of cloth from the tent when I got my period, the war that humiliated women" Doha Ahmed 33 years

"I wished the ground would open up and swallow me"

With these words, Safaa described the moment she began to menstruate during her displacement. She was staying in a tent near the Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza after her house in Rimal was bombed.

For most women in the besieged strip, the mere idea of menstruation is a nightmare and yet another catastrophe compounded onto their suffering. There is a lack of sanitary pads, the proper facilities for self-care, and a lack of bathrooms. Some women resorted to delaying their menstrual cycle via contraceptive pills.

This affects their health in the long term and has many side effects.

"My baby girl doesn't have a name yet because of the war. She is four days old,” says Kifaya Abu Aser.

Pregnant women who have recently given birth are another story. Most of them suffered from fatigue and displacement from one place to another more than once, and some of them gave birth in unhealthy conditions without medications, painkillers, or personal care facilities.

There is no privacy, water or sanitary pads..

Some women resorted to bathing and washing clothes in seawater due to the lack of hygiene and water.

the life of displacement has serious physical and psychological consequences for women, as they "do not have access to personal hygiene conditions and health care, which negatively impacts a woman's interactions with her relatives, family, husband, and children.

the number of displaced individuals in Gaza has reached 1.6 million, half of whom are women.

A group of women in the Gaza Strip raised their voice regarding the crisis of sanitary pads and their lack of availability in places of displacement, “there are even no worn clothes to cut up and use as alternatives.”

Let us together hand by hand help to provide assistance and support them by receiving personal care packages to help them resist the difficult circumstances they are going through.

The purpose of the fundraiser:

The situation in Gaza is dire. Worsening conditions, water shortages, and overcrowded shelters are making it increasingly difficult to meet basic hygiene needs.

We aimed to distribute 500 kits to 3 shelters in the middle area in (Deir al-Balah and al-Maghazi camp)

The kits are $20 each and will be purchased within Gaza and will be distributed in Deir al-Balah and al-Maghazi camp by friends on the ground.

These Women support kits will include items like :

Menstrual pads.

Hygiene kits "shampoo, disinfectant wipes, q-tips, tissues, fingernail clippers, hair brush and comb, soaps, and more"

Some types of medications and painkillers during menstruation.

And any other pressing matters seen fit by on- ground friends