Keeping Gaza’s Children Healthy with Hygiene Programming
Evacuees in Gaza continue to live in overcrowded tents and shelters, and with the majority of clean water sources destroyed and everyday items blockaded, sanitation conditions have deteriorated to a dangerous degree. Many people are regularly contracting lice or mite infections and scabies, and children and adults alike suffer from acute diarrhea and other waterborne diseases.
Peace Winds and our local partner in Gaza have been working to improve some of these conditions for children and teens sheltering in Gaza City. We are providing hygiene kits throughout several shelters, and kits contain items like soap, toothbrushes, and other toiletries, as well as sanitary pads.
With the help of local community hygiene promoters, we are also running hygiene education activities. These are designed to be both educational and a small respite from the stress of daily life in Gaza. Instructors bring toys and use sports and games to teach children the importance of basic hygiene and ensure that they can use the items they receive on a daily basis. It covers topics such as proper hand washing, bathing, and teeth brushing.
After a session, one of the children who participated said to the instructor afterward: “For the first time, we left feeling so happy. We loved it so much–please keep coming back!”
Children started practicing what they learned using the hygiene kits provided by Peace Winds and our partners. They were also looking forward to sharing their new knowledge with their family members.
This program began in July 2026, and it joins our ongoing work to deliver clean water to families sheltering in schools, tents, and other areas of Gaza City. Your support has helped us deliver millions of liters of safe water directly to Gazans who have lost their homes, and we are one of the only international NGOs still doing this in Gaza now.
In addition to being basic human rights, hygiene and clean water are a fundamental piece of a dignified and healthy life. Peace Winds will continue to support dignity for displaced families in Gaza however we can, despite the grueling conditions they continue to endure. We are truly grateful for your help with this mission.