The UN estimates that over 700,000 people in Gaza have menstrual cycles, and for them, managing their periods means facing unimaginable hardship. Civilians—particularly Palestinian women, girls, and people who bleed—are bearing the brunt of this crisis, with access to basic necessities like period products, clean water, and safe toilets severely limited. Many have no choice but to use unsafe alternatives, increasing their risk of infection. Imagine sharing one bathroom with over 400 people or being forced to cut up diapers because period products are simply unavailable. This is the daily reality for civilians in Gaza - and in innumerable other places in the world currently living in crisis situations.
Periods don’t stop in times of crisis. But the barriers to managing them grow even more overwhelming, as the assault on Gaza persists and intensifies, and displacement causes greater stress, exacerbating menstrual symptoms. The past year has seen a surge in refugees and people seeking asylum, civilians who have been uprooted from their homes and forced into overcrowded shelters. For many, these conditions make menstrual health even harder to manage, with devastating effects on their agency and wellbeing.
Menstrual health is a human right, yet in Gaza, it’s systematically neglected—denying women and people who bleed their autonomy and agency.
The past year has been marked by unimaginable suffering, overwhelmingly by Palestinian civilians. Now, more violence and heartbreak unfolds in Lebanon. In light of this ongoing devastation, we urgently call on the U.K. government to end arms sales to Israel and demand a permanent and immediate ceasefire across both Palestine and Lebanon.
To stand in solidarity, we must act. Donate to organisations like MAP: Medical Aid for Palestine which provide essential supplies and healthcare to those on the ground. Join protests, raise your voice online, and amplify the voices of Palestinians demanding justice.
The liberation of all people is interconnected. Stand with us, in our thousands and in our millions, to advocate for a world where Palestinians and every individual can live with dignity, health, and freedom from violence and stigma.
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