Since the start of the war in Gaza, UN Women has been documenting the experiences of women in Gaza in a series of gender alerts that look at various aspects of how the war is impacting the daily lives of women and girls, including food, water, shelter, health, and protection. This new alert is the latest in this series, and it focuses on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services, which are integral to women’s health, dignity, safety, and privacy.
WASH addresses the most basic of human needs, from hydration to hygiene. Currently, none of the human needs for water are met in Gaza. Limited access to water and sanitation facilities, standing in long queues for limited portions of water, and managing water in overcrowded households leads to undignified living conditions and the spread of waterborne diseases such as Hepatitis and Diarrhoea. This gender alert focuses on the gendered impact of these shortages.
