Feminine products for the women and girls in Gaza

Hello, my name is Amira Rupnik, and I truly appreciate you taking a moment to read this. As many of you may know, it has been 6 months since Israel has begun its assault on Gaza. Israel has murdered 30,000+ Palestinians in the span of 6 months, destroying their homes, their water and food supply, along with blocking any humanitarian aid trying to come through. Palestinians in Gaza have no medical supplies as most of the hospitals in Gaza have been bombed and destroyed. Palestinians in Gaza are truly facing unspeakable suffering. As a Palestinian woman, I cannot help but think of the Palestinian women and young girls who do not have privacy, clean water or feminine products to take care of themselves during these horrifying circumstances. Many women in Gaza have resorted to taking menstruation-delaying pills if they can find them, due to the desperate, unsanitary circumstances that they are being forced into due to Israeli bombardment. These pills have very negative side effects, such as extremely heavy and irregular bleeding, nausea and dizziness. Because of the bombardment and siege, not only are they facing displacement, which can severely affect a woman’s body and her hormones due to the extreme stress, but they are facing lack of access to any water and menstrual hygiene products. Women have reported not being able to bear the menstrual cramps on top of the constant state of intense fear, lack of sleep, and the cold as there are not enough blankets. Israel’s siege has made regular hygiene a luxury and close to impossible.

I am partnering with Hayat Pharmacy to raise money to purchase feminine hygiene products for the women and young girls of Gaza. Hayat Pharmacy is a locally owned pharmacy in the Milwaukee area. Hayat Pharmacy is working with Hanan Refugees Relief Group, a non-profit organization, to get these products to Gaza. Hayat Pharmacy has also generously offered to match up to $10,000 in donations. All the money donated will be used to purchase sanitary pads, tampons, wet wipes, small towels, tissues, body wash and any other feminine products needed. We pray that we are able to ease at least some of the stresses that the women and young girls of Gaza have to face, on top of the intense traumatic suffering they are experiencing everyday.

Absolutely any amount that you are willing to contribute is so greatly appreciated, and if you aren't able to contribute money at this time, a share with your friends and family would mean the world to us.