Building accessible sanitation facilities for displaced people in Gaza

Hours-long lines for water in cramped camps

As evacuation orders by Israeli forces continue to compress people into ever-smaller areas along the increasingly cramped coastal areas of Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, living conditions in nearby Al-Mawasi are getting worse. OCHA estimates that from July 22 to 26 alone, more than 190,000 Palestinians were displaced to Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah.

Those displaced in Al-Mawasi are living in dusty tents, overcrowded with family members and without proper access to food, water, and essential services such as sanitation and health care. People often have to wait in line for hours for water and even latrines, and are unable to regularly shower.

“The living conditions are extremely difficult,” explained PARC pediatrician Dr. Youssef Salaf Al-Farra. “Every day, we see between 300 to 400 cases at the medical clinic, of which 200 are related to skin conditions. Children are the most impacted, especially by skin conditions that are highly contagious.”

At least 16 evacuation orders in seven weeks

Between July 1 and August 21, Israeli forces issued at least 16 evacuation orders in Gaza. An estimated 213,000 Palestinians have been affected from the beginning of August to August 16 and 86% of Gaza has come under evacuation orders since the war began, according to OCHA. 

During evacuations, people are forced to move in a rush and with very little forewarning, which can be particularly challenging for people with disabilities, women with children, and elderly people. Months of endless evacuation orders by Israeli forces have left many people empty-handed, without even a plastic bag of belongings or a single bar of soap.

As skin conditions spread, PARC, with support from MSF, has built over 300 latrines, including accessible latrines for people with physical disabilities in the Deir al-Balah camp, and has installed three solar water pump systems and provided primary health care to displaced people.

“There is no clean drinking water, resulting in diseases spreading,” said displaced mother Rasha Misbeh. “Children’s faces and bodies are becoming itchy. All the children are impacted by the spread of [skin] conditions—there is not a single child who isn’t impacted. Everyone is packed closely together, which is making it worse.” 

Basic hygiene supplies blocked by Israel

For three months, MSF has tried to import 4,000 hygiene kits to improve the living conditions of displaced people, but has been blocked by Israeli authorities. The kits contain basic everyday items such as soap, toothbrushes, shampoo, and laundry powder. The scarcity of such items in Gaza means they are prohibitively expensive for people to purchase.

MSF continues to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as well as unimpeded safe access for staff and supplies to be able to enter the Strip and reach areas most in need of support.