Women in Gaza: displaced and destroyed without basic needs.
Written by Shumi Ahmed
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has brought immense suffering to the Palestinian people, with women and young girls facing unique challenges. Beyond the obvious impacts of violence and displacement, they endure silent suffering that comes from the lack of basic necessities such as menstrual products, food, and essential nutrition. These hardships contribute to deteriorating health, self-esteem, and overall well-being.
Amid war, access to basic hygiene products like menstrual pads or tampons is far from guaranteed. For Palestinian women and girls, this has become a critical problem. Humanitarian aid often focuses on providing food, water, and shelter, leaving menstrual hygiene unaddressed. This scarcity of menstrual products forces several women to rely on unsanitary alternatives such as cloth rags or even nothing at all, which increases the possibility of infections and risks of other health complications.
The inability to manage menstruation properly is not only a physical issue but it impacts women’s emotional well-being and self-confidence. In traditional societies and cultures, menstruation is often considered a private matter, and the lack of resources to handle it with dignity becomes an additional source of shame and stress for women. Teenage girls, who are already dealing with the challenges of puberty, suffer most acutely, often missing school during their periods or withdrawing from social activities out of embarrassment.
On top of the problem regarding menstrual hygiene, the scarcity of food and insecurity in the war zone areas are devastating the women of Palestine. The blockade in Gaza and the destruction of agricultural infrastructure have caused a food crisis, leaving many families without access to sufficient or nutritious meals. Women and children, particularly pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, are highly vulnerable to these conditions. Malnutrition weakens their immune systems, causing them to be more susceptible to illness and worsening the health impacts of menstruation.
The lack of essential nutrients like iron and vitamins leads to anemia and other conditions that can become life-threatening without proper care. Young girls, already malnourished, often experience delayed or disrupted menstrual cycles, adding another layer of stress to their developing bodies. The long-term effects of the nutritional deprivation the girls are experiencing will be felt not only physically but psychologically, as poor health erodes self-esteem and confidence. There have been multiple interviews with young girls showing the effects their inaccessibility to food has caused. In one case, a young girl was shown to be losing all of her hair. The interview allowed viewers to hear her talk about her newly developed insecurities about her situation, and how her self-esteem has significantly dropped causing her to wear head wraps every day before interacting with the other kids.
International organizations and humanitarian groups need to ensure that their relief efforts include menstrual products and nutrition-focused aid to preserve the dignity, health, and confidence of women and girls in Gaza. Women’s health cannot be sidelined in a crisis, especially not one as devastating as this. The well-being of Palestinian women and girls is crucial for the long-term recovery and resilience of their society.
