On October 7th, Israel began to relentlessly bombard the people of Gaza with weapons of mass destruction and death. They cut off water, food, internet, access to fuel and left nothing but destruction in their wake. In the beginning of the war, Israel told Gazans to flee south. The Gazans, believing Israel, fled to Khan Younis, which Israel declared a safe zone. However, the “safe routes” that Israel told Gazans to take were all bombed. Slowly but surely, northern Gaza became nothing but a cemetery and a place of famine. Israel’s war forced 1.4 million Gazans into Rafah, a city where blood flows. Gazans, for the past 6 months, have wondered if the bomb from the sky will kill them, or an IDF soldier who will torture and beat them, or the famine. In this situation, the price of feminine hygiene products, such as sanitary pads, has skyrocketed. The mass displacement has forced the women of Gaza to chemically delay their periods, because they have no other option. They are forced to use kids’ clothes as sanitary pads and cannot afford the simple luxury of using a pad. These pills cause irregular vaginal bleeding, mood swings, and are designed to keep progesterone levels high to make sure that the uterus doesn’t shed its lining.
Menstrual Issues: As of now many girls and women in Gaza are struggling with receiving the necessities they need for their monthly cycle. Pads are no longer found in many pharmacies. Children starting from ages 11 search all around for sanitational needs however most of the time fail to find any. Rarely when pads appear on selves they are sold for prices six times higher making it very unaffordable for individuals. About 700,000 women and girls are currently facing issues to acquire basic hygiene necessities such as tissues, water, soap, menstrual products, etc.The risk of reproduction and infection has only grown daily, endangering the female generations to come. Today's women have to endure the hardships and challenges associated with controlling their periods by using tent fabric, old clothes, or medications. Early menstruating children now experience severe hardship and discomfort as they grow into womanhood. The heart-wrenching reality that women and young children in Gaza are entangled in is unfair and injustice all while their health hangs on in jeopardy.