Article by Hanin A. Elholy
After Israel forced them to leave their home, Doaa and Ahmad and their three children found themselves living in a tent under catastrophic conditions. Skin infections and dermatological diseases are just some of their problems.
Moving to a desert
Doaa Shaqra, 35, from Rafah in southern Gaza is married to Ahmed, 37, and they have three boys, Jehad 9, Abd Al-Rahman, 8, and Mohammed, 2.
Ahmed used to work as an accountant in a governmental institution and earned 2000NIS monthly, barely enough to get by. Now he only receives 800NIS despite the fact the family needs more and everything is expensive. At the beginning of the invasion of Rafah, Ahmed started to look for a safer place. Last May, they got a tent and were forced into refugee conditions in Al Mawassi in Khan-Younis with other relatives and friends.
Similar to a desert, near the beach, Al Mawassi is filled with various unknown insects along with ants, locusts, geckos, flies, mosquitoes, and lizards. Also, dozens of refugees are forced to use the same bathroom. In addition to the shortage of drinkable water, unpotable water used in washing and showers is too salty and affects the skin and hair. The temperature also rises particularly during these months, reaching 40c outside the tent and as high as 50c inside. The elderly and very young alike are exposed to high temperatures for extended periods resulting in critical side effects.
Children’s infections
In July, one of the hottest months, Doaa started to notice symptoms of skin infection on her three children as they started to complain. She then noticed similar infections on her hands, and later knew it’s a sensitivity to cooking on the mud oven and exposure to the fire.
Nassim Bassala, a dermatologist at Nasser Hospital, said that the hospital receives between 300 and 500 people a day suffering from skin diseases. “After the recent Israeli evacuation orders, more people have crowded into the fields on the outskirts of Khan Younis, where insects spread in the summer,” adding, “scabies and lice have reached epidemic proportions, but there are also fungal, bacterial, viral and other parasitic infections that are spreading widely. With the influx of so many patients, even simple cases can become dangerous.”
More violence and no fun
Named after his grandfather and obsessed with football, Jehad used to play a lot with relatives in a wide space beside their tent. Doaa explained, “I always let him play. It’s the best way to release his negative energy. However, I didn’t recognise the long hours he spent under sun, especially since he also helps his father with the daily chores.”
Jehad always waits in queues for the drinkable and undrinkable water, and then carries it all for longdistances to and from their tents. He also waits at hospice — where chefs prepare and distribute food at no cost — where he is forced to fight in line with other refugees for the food for his family.
At first, Jehad suffered from burning, itching, and redness. Then, white spots spread on his neck and his face. He also contracted diarrhea with a bad smell and colic, and then urinary tract infections. The doctor took blood, urine, and stool analysis, and Jehad was diagnosed with fungi, bacteria, and anemia. The doctor said this type of fungi increases and results from high temperature, heavy sweating, contaminated water, canned food and undercooked food, lack of bathing, and substandard living conditions. Doaa said that her son always complained to her, “The war is destined on forced and it’s okay. But I can’t play football too? This is too much!”
Doaa noticed that Abed Al Rahman and Mohammed have rashes and spots on their face and chest. Scratched rashes are easily infected with dirt. As she explained, Doaa said Abed first keeps washingand showering with the extra salty water while the second likes to play with sand, which is often polluted. The doctor diagnosed them with impetigo. He explained that it’s a simple bacterial infection that can be treated with ointments and creams, but can have severe complications that may affect their kidneys.
Doaa has difficulties dealing with her youngest child, especially when she applies the cream to his forehead and chest, which are covered in scabies, sores and spots. “It’s terrible. There are always flies on his face,” she cries. “He goes to the toilet or the bin, and his hands get dirty. The filth is enormous.”
Bad environment and lack of hygiene
The terrible environment itself is attracting diseases as there are other reasons behind the rapid and wide spread of skin ailments. Everything related to hygiene is rare. Refugees who are infected with diseases try to clean themselves in the sea where riders of animals like camels, horses, and donkeys also swim.
There is no shampoo, soap, toilet rolls, or liquid soap for dishes and clothes. Instead, refugees tend to make whatever substitutes they can and sell to each other. Doaa added the homemade products are “expensive and don’t clean well.”
She believes that malnutrition also results from the lack of normal proteins such as meat, chicken, fish, and eggs. They are either canned or frozen and expensive. Not everyone can buy them. Some people are forced to buy them after they are thawed and cheaper, yet this is often dangerous. “Every time I buy eggs or frozen chicken for my children, they suffer from diarrhea.”
Doaa says she “gets sick” from everything happening to her and her family, especially the children’s illnesses. She hopes the surrounding environment improves and that she and her children somehow become healthier again. However, this probably can’t happen until they return to their homes.
“I’m not throwing rockets. I’m an unarmed mother who wants her family healthy and living in a clean environment! End the war or continue it. What I need now is to return to our home.”
