Menstrual Pad Scarcity

In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, women face yet another layer of hardship as the availability of menstrual pads and access to running water becomes increasingly scarce. Heba Usrof, a young woman in Gaza, reflects the struggles many are experiencing as pads have vanished from pharmacies and stores since the conflict began in October. The dire situation extends beyond menstrual products, encompassing basic necessities like food and medical aid, exacerbating the challenges faced by the people of Gaza.

Ruba Akkila, a gender protection expert, highlights that when pads do sporadically appear on shelves, they are priced five to six times higher than normal, rendering them unaffordable for most households already grappling with poverty and unemployment.

The scarcity of hygiene products, including pads, toilet paper, and running water, poses serious health risks to the approximately 700,000 women and girls in Gaza experiencing menstrual cycles. The lack of access to these essentials increases the likelihood of reproductive and urinary tract infections, compounding the already dire humanitarian crisis. Jumana Shahin, a women’s rights activist in Gaza, emphasizes the neglect of women’s needs amid the overwhelming scale of the crisis.

Women in Gaza are resorting to desperate measures to manage their menstrual cycles. Some are taking pills to suppress their periods, while others, unable to find such pills, turn to makeshift solutions using old clothes, towels, or whatever materials are available.

The displacement of around 2 million people, comprising more than 85% of Gaza’s population, further exacerbates the challenges. Women not only struggle to find pads but also contend with a lack of privacy and limited access to bathrooms. The water crisis is severe, with many Gazans having little to no access to running water, making showers a rare luxury. Those living in crowded U.N.-run schools share limited bathroom facilities, while others in tents and on the streets face difficulties in finding suitable bathrooms.

Despite the dire circumstances, international aid remains insufficient, with only a fraction of the necessary aid entering Gaza. Organizations like UNICEF distribute hygiene kits containing pads, soap, wipes, and other essentials, but the demand far exceeds the available supply. The ongoing conflict intensifies the already critical humanitarian situation, leaving women in Gaza grappling with multifaceted challenges that compromise their health and well-being.

_{Repurposed article originally published in NPR}