The war isn’t only a war of shelling and bombs, but also a war of disease, and a war of hygiene.
— Niveen Qaneet, Gaza
Amidst ruins and destruction, Niveen Qaneet is as conscious of the threats of diseases poses to her family as she is of the violence and bombing.
“There have been times when medical essentials like ointment to disinfect wounds and everyday necessities a bar of soap have completely vanished.”
Niveen and others in her community came together to mount a powerful collective response.
“In the camp, we worked as one family. Men, women and children all cleaned the bathrooms and scrubbed the spaces around them to ward off infection. Households gathered primary waste so a collection truck was able transport it far away daily”.
Oxfam and our local partner, the Palestinian Environmental Friends Association (PEF) supported their efforts by repairing wastewater pipelines, installing 30 self-built family latrines, and distributing emergency health kits.
Oxfam and our local partner, the Palestinian Environmental Friends Association (PEF) supported their efforts by repairing wastewater pipelines, installing 30 self-built family latrines, and distributing emergency health kits.
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No home, no safety
Hiba Waleed is a legal studies graduate and mother of four whose home was bombed in the opening days of the conflict.
“We fled in a state of panic…We walked over broken glass without even noticing. Even during temporary pauses in fighting, the unrelenting sound of aircraft reminds us we are never truly safe.”
Determined to act as a powerful voice and put her legal background to use, Hiba has partnered with Oxfam and our local partner, the Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA), to lead workshops on International Humanitarian Law.
But Hiba says teaching these principles can be difficult because what is presented as law is very different to what people in the camp actually experience.
“How do I tell them there is a law we should return to, when in reality it doesn’t protect us?” Hiba explains.
Despite all of this, Hiba passionately urges the women she teaches: “We must keep struggling until our last breath and demand these rights. We deserve the same rights as everyone else in the outside world.”
A donation from you today can empower more women like Hiba to raise awareness against Israel’s ongoing war crimes.
The war isn’t only a war of shelling and bombs, but also a war of disease, and a war of hygiene.
