GAZA, (PIC)
Thousands of families in the Gaza Strip are living in harsh humanitarian conditions, deprived of the simplest requirements for a dignified life, foremost of which is the availability of safe health facilities, as a result of the continuation of the war and the restriction of the entry of basic supplies for nearly 30 months.
With widespread destruction affecting homes and infrastructure, including bathrooms and toilets, scenes of the lack of health facilities have become part of daily life, forcing residents to devise primitive solutions that do not meet the minimum humanitarian or health standards.
Humiliating alternatives
The citizen Khalid Abu Salem said that the Strip faces an unprecedented reality, as many have been forced to use temporary and humiliating alternatives, in light of the almost complete absence of toilet chairs and their supplies.
He explained that prices have witnessed a shocking rise; after they were affordable, they have become today so expensive that most residents cannot afford them.
For his part, Ahmed Baraka described the reality of using bathrooms in displacement areas as “tragic.” He pointed out that many families are forced to use the same space for bathing and relieving themselves, in an environment that lacks cleanliness and privacy, which increases the risk of the spread of diseases.
He added that the narrow spaces and the high cost of establishing separate facilities drive residents to adapt to unhealthy conditions, which has been clearly reflected in the spread of skin and intestinal diseases, in addition to unpleasant odors that affect the respiratory system. Lack of privacy
In the camps and shelter centers, the suffering appears more severe, according to Mahmoud Abu Labda, who confirmed that life there lacks the minimum degrees of privacy, pointing out that primitive toilets do not provide safety, especially for children and women. He recounted an incident his young daughter faced after a reptile entered a primitive toilet, which left her in a state of permanent fear.
As for Salim Awad, he spoke about the overcrowding crisis, where several families are forced to use one toilet, which imposes long hours of waiting, especially at peak times, and doubles the suffering of women in particular in light of the absence of privacy.
On the technical level, the plumber Muhammad Abu Al-Ata explained that the exacerbation of the crisis is due to the destruction of water and sewage networks, and the prevention of the entry of necessary materials, in addition to the increasing demand against the scarcity of supply.
He pointed out that alternative solutions, such as cement or floor toilets, do not suit all groups, especially the sick and the elderly, and they are also difficult to clean and cause unpleasant odors. قد يتسائل البعض كيف شكل الحمامات في مخيمات النزوح ؟
فيديو قصير لبناء حمام يعتبر فاخر ومكلف جدا pic.twitter.com/xV4vhPIQP0 — Mahmud PS (@Mbdo95) April 7, 2026 Health risks
Medically, the internal medicine specialist Dr. Mahmoud Matar warned of serious repercussions of these conditions, confirming that the lack of cleanliness and the use of the same place for multiple purposes has led to the outbreak of diseases such as diarrhea, skin infections, and hepatitis, especially in overcrowded environments.
He added that the lack of privacy drives some people, especially women, to reduce their food and drink intake to avoid using the toilets, which poses a direct threat to their health.
For his part, the consultant of dermatology and venereal diseases Dr. Shafiq Al-Khatib confirmed that the spread of insects in these environments increases the possibility of contracting skin diseases and severe allergies, as well as serious intestinal diseases as a result of food and water contamination.
In light of this reality, warnings of an imminent health and environmental disaster are escalating, unless there is urgent intervention to provide appropriate health facilities, and rehabilitate the infrastructure, to ensure the minimum level of a dignified life for the residents.