In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), UNRWA released a video captured by Aisha, a displaced Palestinian woman, who spoke out about the dire conditions faced by those sheltering in the schools. Originally intended for educational purposes, these school buildings have become overcrowded shelters, lacking basic necessities.
Aisha, appearing in the video, shared her harrowing experience: “This place is meant for education, not for living,” she said. “I left my beautiful home to come to this place, which lacks the basic necessities of life.”
She described the overwhelming hardships, particularly for women and girls, in the shelters, highlighting health and economic struggles as well as the absence of food, water, and aid. The conditions are further exacerbated by safety concerns, with many shelter locations vulnerable to bombings.
"The facilities we need are far away, the toilet is far, there is no place to cook or rest, and the place where we are staying is unsafe, vulnerable to being bombed at any moment," Aisha explained. "Gaza as a whole is unsafe. They have deprived us of our right to safety and protection."
In her emotional appeal, Aisha stressed the need for international support: “It is our right to be protected during wars. As Palestinian women, we suffer. We need your support to protect us and defend us. We want you to provide a dignified life for the women who are innocent in this war so that we can face life and society.”
Aisha also highlighted the devastating impact the war has had on women’s health, particularly in relation to menstruation, where basic hygiene needs have become nearly impossible to meet in the current conditions. “At this time of the month, a woman is destroyed,” she said.
The situation in Gaza remains critical, with women and children disproportionately affected by the ongoing conflict, facing life-threatening challenges in overcrowded and unsafe conditions. (ILKHA)