In war-torn Gaza, pediatrician Lobna al-Azaiza faces overwhelming challenges as basic necessities like shampoo, soap, and medications become scarce due to the ongoing blockade. With the collapse of waste collection and sanitation, diseases are spreading rapidly, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
In Short:
- Gaza is facing severe shortages of hygiene products and medicines.
- Overcrowding and poor sanitation have led to a rise in contagious diseases.
- Pediatrician Lobna al-Azaiza has adapted to treating entire families in a makeshift clinic.
- Essential medications are either unavailable or unaffordable.
- International aid has been drastically reduced due to border control issues.
In the devastated region of Gaza, pediatrician Lobna al-Azaiza faces heartbreaking challenges daily. When young girls come to her complaining about not having a comb, she has to give them the harsh advice to cut their hair. The shortage of basic items like combs is just the tip of the iceberg in a crisis where essential goods such as shampoo, soap, and menstrual products are almost non-existent due to a strict blockade.
Gaza has been ravaged by ten months of intense conflict, and the impact on daily life is profound. The blockade has led to a severe shortage of household cleaning materials, and with waste collection and sewage treatment systems in shambles, the region is a breeding ground for contagious diseases. Overcrowded living conditions and a lack of water for proper hygiene have caused skin diseases, rashes, and infections to spread rapidly.
Dr. Azaiza, who used to work at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, now operates a small, makeshift clinic. She continues to care for her patients despite the fact that her own home was destroyed in an airstrike. Her clinic, originally set up to treat children, has had to expand its services to entire families who, like most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, have been displaced from their homes by the conflict.
The medical situation is dire. Even when medications are available, they are often prohibitively expensive. A simple tube of burn ointment now costs 200 shekels, or $53, a price that is out of reach for most families in the region.
The humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by a significant reduction in international aid deliveries. Since Israel took control of the Rafah border crossing from Egypt, getting vital supplies into Gaza has become increasingly difficult. Israel maintains that the responsibility for aid distribution lies with the United Nations and other organizations, but the delays are costing lives.
Dr. Azaiza is clear about what needs to be done: “The border crossing must be opened so we can bring in medications. Most of the ones we have now are ineffective; they have no impact on the skin diseases we're seeing.”
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with medical professionals like Dr. Azaiza continuing to provide care under incredibly challenging circumstances, all while calling for urgent international intervention to alleviate the suffering of the people.