The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip has exacerbated a critical shortage of female hygiene products, significantly impacting women in the region. As the war persists, women face challenges in accessing essential items like menstrual hygiene products and razors, which have either become exorbitantly priced or scarce.

With over 540,000 women and girls of reproductive age in Gaza requiring access to vital hygiene and health care supplies, the situation has reached a dire state. Displaced multiple times since the war’s onset, individuals like Leena Abu Hain, 21, residing in temporary shelters, struggle to maintain personal hygiene due to limited resources. The quality of available sanitary pads and hygiene products is subpar, further compounded by inflated prices, making it burdensome for women to upkeep cleanliness.

The impact of the conflict on women’s hygiene has been likened to a “war on women” by UN Women, emphasizing the disproportionate toll on females during periods of conflict. The agency’s special representative in Palestine, Maryse Guimond, highlighted the plight of approximately one million women and young girls enduring the brunt of the prolonged conflict, facing repeated displacements and heightened vulnerability to attacks.

In addition to hygiene concerns, pregnant women like Samaher Kishko, 39, are grappling with limited access to nutritious food and prenatal care. The scarcity of essential items like eggs and meat due to exorbitant prices has led to nutritional deficiencies, impacting both maternal and fetal health. Women resort to purchasing costly supplements to compensate for the lack of adequate diet, underscoring the challenges faced in maintaining basic health standards amidst the conflict.

Furthermore, the restriction of humanitarian aid and essential supplies like sanitary pads has exacerbated the already dire situation. The unavailability of new clothing and undergarments has forced women to make do with existing attire, while the escalating prices of hygiene products like shampoo and laundry detergents pose additional financial strains. Women like Riham, 27, residing in humanitarian zones, express concerns over the dwindling availability of essential items and the financial burden it places on them.

The uncertainty surrounding the future availability of hygiene products intensifies the challenges faced by women in Gaza, who must navigate through daily struggles while prioritizing their safety and well-being. The escalating crisis underscores the urgent need for sustained humanitarian assistance and international support to address the pressing female hygiene needs in the war-torn region.