Oxfam Delivers Lifesaving Aid To Women And Girls In Gaza Amid Worsening Humanitarian Crisis

As the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deepens, Oxfam and its partners have managed to deliver essential aid, including menstrual hygiene products. With the siege blocking all but a trickle of food and extremely limited medical supplies in recent days, Oxfam has been able to continue limited distribution from their now depleted stocks in Gaza, delivering the products to women and girls affected by the ongoing crisis.

Despite the ongoing aid obstruction, constant bombardment and movement restrictions, Oxfam, together with local partners Juzoor and Aisha, distributed 5,000 dignity kits in Northern Gaza and additional 2,100 in Southern Lebanon. This effort is part of a wider humanitarian response that includes emergency food aid, clean water, and sanitation support for communities suffering from nearly two years of relentless violence and siege.

The dignity kits, developed in partnership with Auckland-based non-profit Reemi, contain four sets of reusable period underwear, a specially designed washing and drying bag, and other personal care items. These products offer a sustainable and long-term solution for women and girls who have had no access to menstrual supplies and very limited water.

Reemi’s wash bags enable efficient and discrete cleaning using only a small amount of water, making them a practical choice in water-scarce and culturally sensitive settings. Early post-distribution feedback in Gaza has shown promising results, with women reporting that the kits are both manageable and a relief after prolonged deprivation and lack of water access. Women who had told Oxfam that they were resorting to using tent scraps as period pads in response to a lack of hygiene products, can now use their Reemi pants across their whole cycle.

Fidaa Alaraj, Oxfam’s Gender Advisor in Gaza, said: "This delivery is a lifeline for women and girls who’ve had no access to basic menstrual care. Reusable products not only restore dignity, but are also a sustainable, practical response to ongoing challenges like water scarcity and waste. Menstrual health must be seen as an essential component of humanitarian response."

The distribution represents a breakthrough for menstrual health in what continues to be a heavily restricted aid operation. Since the escalation of hostilities more than 19 months ago, essential supplies including food, fuel, and medical aid have been severely limited. Emily Au-Young, founder of Reemi, emphasised the importance of addressing menstrual health in emergencies: "Periods don’t stop in a crisis. Access to menstrual health is a basic right, not a luxury. I’m grateful to Oxfam, who continue to innovate in the hygiene space even during acute crises, as well as the 900 Kiwis who supported this campaign. Our partnership has provided a long-lasting solution for women and girls in some of the world’s most challenging environments - places where waste systems are broken and access to hygiene is limited."

Oxfam Aotearoa Executive Director, Jason Myers, said: "While the delivery of these dignity kits was a relief to many women, the scale of need remains overwhelming. Some days, supplies make it across the border with essential items like food and water, and other days, very little humanitarian aid, if any, is allowed in. Oxfam reiterates our call for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered ability to deliver humanitarian relief to address this ongoing crisis."

Notes:

- Oxfam’s rapid gender analysis was conducted from 7-13 May 2024 in North Gaza, Khan Younis, Rafah, and Middle Area.

- Reemi is a social enterprise designing ethical, low-resource reusable period underwear for use in humanitarian and development contexts.

- The washing bags only require 500ml of water to wash the underwear to a hygienic standard, as proven by lab tests. This is far less water usage than hand washing.

- The menstrual hygiene products distributed in Gaza were funded by Elrha via the FCDO and 900 New Zealanders who enabled an additional distribution of 2,100 kits.

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