In the Gaza Strip, families enduring war and longing for peace

In the war-torn Gaza Strip, families endure unimaginable living conditions. Wisam, 43. She has been displaced with her four children for seven months. "We lack basic necessities like clean drinking water," she explains. "I walk more than a kilometre for water, which isn't enough and is dirty, causing diseases." Her children, including Sajida, suffer from illness due to contaminated water and lack of cleanliness. "We bathe once every two weeks due to water shortages," Wisam adds, highlighting the severe impact on their health

Najwa Ibrahim Al-Dabbaji, a mother of four, shares a similar experience. "All my children contracted hepatitis due to the lack of hygiene," Najwa says. "The weather inside the tent is unbearable; my children cry all night from the heat. Their psychological state has worsened, suffering from extreme fear and involuntary urination." The hygiene kit they received provided some relief, but Najwa hopes for more support. "I hope the kit would have been bigger and included more cleaning supplies," she says.

Hanan Al-Jarjawi, 35, and her five children have also been deeply affected. "All my children were pulled from under the rubble in Gaza City after we were bombed," Hanan recalls. "Now, living in tents, they have all contracted hepatitis." Her youngest daughter suffers from fetching water daily. Despite the hardships, Hanan remains hopeful. "I hope the war ends and my children can live safely and happily."

The children’s voices echo this despair. Rama, 11, who is visually impaired, says, "I wish to return home and wear my glasses. I miss my friends; I want to see them again."

UNICEF calls for safe and unrestricted humanitarian access to and within the Gaza Strip to reach the affected children wherever they are, as well as an immediate and long-lasting humanitarian ceasefire. The 5,000 hygiene kits distributed in the past couple of weeks, along with other essential supplies funded by Australian Aid, have been crucial. Thanks to the support of the Government of Australia, in addition to the EU Humanitarian Aid, CERF and the Governments of Switzerland, Spain and Japan, UNICEF is committed to addressing the urgent hygiene needs of children and their families in the Gaza Strip, but more support is desperately needed. This effort aims to alleviate the suffering of these families and help restore dignity and hope in their lives.