GAZA, (PIC)
In the Gaza Strip, the suffering of families is no longer limited to the loss of safety and food, but has extended to the smallest details of daily life, until securing baby diapers has become a suffocating crisis weighing heavily on parents, and putting the health of infants in the circle of danger.
With the continuation of the war since October 7, 2023, this crisis is worsening to reveal another face of silent human suffering.
A mounting crisis, and diapers disappear from the markets
During recent weeks, Gaza markets have witnessed a gradual disappearance of baby diapers, coinciding with strict restrictions on the entry of goods, which led to an unprecedented rise in their prices.
This basic commodity has become out of reach for a large number of families, especially with the deterioration of economic conditions and the rise in unemployment rates.
Daily suffering, harsh alternatives
Citizen Abu Karim Hamdan, 38 years old, who is a father of an infant, said, “We search daily for diapers to no avail, and if they are found, they are at unbearable prices.”
He added that he was forced to use alternatives such as cloths or towels, but they caused severe irritation to his child’s skin, which forced him to buy medicines at an additional cost, amid difficult living conditions inside a displacement tent.
“My child’s crying does not stop… it is as if we are living a daily nightmare,” he said with a broken heart.
Double cost
A single family needs several packs per month, at a time when the price of a single pack has exceeded the purchasing power limits of many families.
With the cessation of regular aid, parents have become faced with two options, both of which are bitter: either buying at high prices, or resorting to health-unsafe alternatives.
Mothers in the face of helplessness
Umm Luay, who is a mother of two children, narrated another side of the crisis, “Even the appropriate sizes are not available, and if we find them, they are at very high prices.”
She explained that she is sometimes forced to use the same diaper for long periods, or rely on cloth, which causes constant discomfort to her two children, especially during the night.
She wondered bitterly, “Until when will the children of Gaza keep paying this price?”
Demand is high and supplies almost stopped
For his part, the merchant Abu al-Abd Siyam, who is a supplier of children’s supplies, confirmed that the crisis has worsened significantly during recent weeks, with the rise in demand and the decline in available quantities.
He pointed out that there are shipments on the way, but their fate remains linked to being allowed entry, in light of the continuous restrictions on the crossings.
Medical warnings, health risks threatening children
In the same context, Doctor Yasmin Labad warned against using non-designated alternatives, explaining that children’s skin is highly sensitive, and using cloth or nylon may lead to skin infections and a painful rash, and perhaps fungal infections in some cases.
She stressed that the continuation of these practices poses a real danger to the health of children, especially with the difficulty of obtaining treatment.
