Since the onset of Israel’s attacks on 7 October, a devastating humanitarian crisis has unfolded in Gaza, leaving families struggling with no certainty of when life will return to normal.
As stated previously by UNICEF, during times of war and conflict, the greatest and most devastating impacts are often felt by the most vulnerable, particularly children, and in Gaza, this has proven true, with infants and their parents among the most affected.
At present, Gazan mothers are facing severe shortages of essential supplies for their children, with necessities either nearly impossible to find or completely unaffordable.
“This genocide is a genocide on our children and their lives. What have they done to deserve such harsh conditions?”
These struggles are further exacerbated by frequent delays and blockages in aid deliveries due to ongoing Israeli restrictions and fighting.
As conditions continue to worsen, The New Arab spoke to mothers in Gaza to understand how they are managing to care for their children, especially as winter sets in and conditions in displacement camps deteriorate.
Plastic bags and cloths as diaper alternatives
One of the first issues reported by the mothers The New Arab spoke to was the lack of access to diapers.
All the women interviewed stated they could not afford diapers due to price increases and, as a result, have had to rely on makeshift alternatives.
Rana Medhat, a resident of Az Zawayda, who welcomed her second daughter, Toleen, just a month before the Israeli assault on Gaza, shared, “Since the beginning of this attack, every day has been a struggle to afford diapers for my baby girl.”
Rana explained that before the conflict, she and her husband Yousef could buy a pack of diapers for less than $5, but that price has drastically increased.
She further noted that every dollar spent on diapers for her baby is a dollar less available for other essential needs.
With these high prices, Rana has faced overwhelming challenges in providing for her newborn and has resorted to various makeshift solutions.
Occasionally, Rana visits the nursery of a nearby hospital, hoping they might have spare diapers. At other times, she dries used diapers in the sun and tries to reuse them, despite the hygiene risks. In the worst case, Rana is left with no choice but to let her baby sit in a soiled diaper until she can get more, which affects her baby’s sensitive skin.
Similarly, the other two mothers shared similar struggles.
Mona Ruqa’a, for instance, explained that she struggles to afford diapers for her baby son, especially since she has another child who also requires them.
She highlighted the drastic price increase since the genocide began, stating that a pack of diapers which used to cost around 12 shekels (about $3.50) now costs an astonishing 220 shekels.
“Imagine how many diapers my babies need in a month,” she lamented, emphasising the overwhelming financial burden on her family.
Due to these high costs, Mona is sometimes forced to use plastic bags or pieces of cloth when she cannot get any diapers.
Like Rana, Mona said this results in “my children suffering from skin infections.”
“I don’t have any other choices,” Mona added.
Huda also expressed her concerns, saying, “My husband and I are constantly worried about our daughter Mira. We struggle to find baby cereal, formula, diapers, and other essentials.”
Huda went on to say, “My daughter suffers from terrible skin infections because I can’t get her diapers.”
In tears, she added, “This genocide is a genocide on our children and their lives. What have they done to deserve such harsh conditions?”
Crushed biscuits and ground rice instead of baby formula
Gaza’s mothers are also experiencing a lack of access to baby formula, which is leading to an early death sentence for many innocent children.
Mona shared her experience with the unavailability of formula, explaining that she is sometimes forced to feed her four-month-old son crushed biscuits and ground rice, even though healthcare providers typically recommend waiting until a child is six months old before introducing solid foods.
Although Mona is aware of the health risks, she said helplessly, “But what options do I have?”
Similarly, Huda explained: “Baby formula is also difficult to find, and I couldn’t prepare it for Mira whenever she was hungry.”
She added, “Over time, my body started to produce less milk for Mira, and she would cry from hunger even after I fed her. I wished I could explain to her that it wasn’t a choice; I was hungry too and wanted to feed her until she was satisfied.”
Like Mona, Huda had to resort to feeding her baby solids.
“Soon, I had no choice but to feed Mira our own food — rice or soup made with well water. Each bite filled me with pain and guilt, as I feared for what it might do to her body,” Huda lamented.
A concerning future
Looking towards the future, with no end in sight to this genocide, the conditions these children are facing due to the lack of supplies present a troubling outlook for their health and their chances of survival.
Between June and October 2024, 3,421 babies and children under five years old were treated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) at the inpatient paediatric ward in Nasser Hospital, with almost a quarter (22 percent) of cases related to diarrhoea and 8.9 percent to meningitis.
“We are treating infants who have infectious and respiratory diseases, as well as skin diseases”
During the same period, 168 newborn babies under one month old, and more than 10,800 children between one and five years old, received consultations in the emergency room at Nasser Hospital in south Gaza for upper respiratory tract infections.
Additionally, around 1,294 children aged between one and five were admitted to Nasser Hospital for lower respiratory tract infections, with approximately 459 cases of pneumonia.
Dr Mohammad Abu Tayyem, an MSF paediatrician working at Nasser Hospital, where over 300 paediatric patients are treated daily, described the current reality to The New Arab, “We are treating infants who have infectious and respiratory diseases, as well as skin diseases.
“Of course, we saw this before the genocide, but today we see it much more, and the figures continue to rise. We see overcrowding in the department, including children with acute pneumonia.”
No more genocide
Upon reflection, all the mothers have called for an end to this deadly genocide so they can raise their children in the way they deserve.
As Mona puts it, “As a mother, all I desire is to give my children a safe home, nutritious food, and clean water. I want them to pursue their education and achieve their dreams. It’s heartbreaking to see our lives diminished in this state, and I often wonder if things will ever improve.
“I wish the world could take a moment to truly understand our pain and suffering — perhaps then, this genocide would finally come to an end.”
Eman Alhaj Ali is a Palestinian freelance journalist, writer, translator, and storyteller based in Gaza with publications on a variety of international and local websites
Follow her on X: @EmanAlhajAli1
