Responding to the Hygiene crisis in Gaza

After the destruction of most built-up towns and cities in Gaza, 80% of families live in makeshift tents across the Strip. The rest live in damaged buildings, abandoned schools or public institutions, and a lucky few rent with inflated prices from the remaining standing structures, often crowded with multiple families. In all cases, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL hears consistently one urgent need from the people it supports: hygiene and cleaning materials. 

 “Cleaning materials are one of the most common requests I hear from families in the camps I have visited,” says Stephen Bisits, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s Country Director for Palestine. 

In April 2026, the World Health Organization and other Health actors have warned of a growing rat problem in the Gaza Strip, as well as emerging cases of worrying skin diseases. These concerns about health in large part motivate the concerns of parents, who want to keep their family’s tent as clean as possible, and their children free from infection. 

Throughout 2025 and 2026, with aid from the European Union, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has been providing these urgently needed items to the most vulnerable families, so they can maintain basic hygiene, while also reducing the risk of disease, especially for children. 

Jerrycans, shampoo, toothbrushes, but also lice kits, sanitary pads and laundry powder… these kits improve access to basic personal and domestic hygiene. They also enable households to preserve drinking water quality and have suitable storage for domestic needs. 

With the support of the European Union.

Header photo : © SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL