Rafah, Gaza, Feb 25 (EFE).- A group of displaced Palestinians diligently works in a small workshop in Rafah, southern Gaza, handcrafting diapers to address shortages and soaring prices resulting from the impact of war, blockade, and the ongoing Israeli siege.
They gather, cut, sew, and repeat, producing between 500 and 700 diapers daily, which they sell directly to families at $4 per package of eight.
The initiative aims to prevent exploitation by traders amid skyrocketing prices. Today, imported diapers cost up to 200 shekels (about $55) per bag.
“We started using material from coronavirus protection equipment,” Maisa Qatati, the manager of the sewing workshop, told EFE.
They use plastic, adhesive strips, and elastic cords from these supplies to manufacture diapers, whose production cost she estimates at seven shekels each.
They ensure the use of medical-grade materials to maintain quality and avoid any issues, Yaser Abu Garara, the project’s promoter, told EFE.
Before getting into diaper making, the workshop offered free vocational training to teach sewing and beauty treatments, Qatati said. However, due to the war, they had to close the center.
“We realized that there was a shortage in the market for children’s health products, and we thought we had to do something,” she said, amid a whirring of a generator, which runs on a gas cylinder.
Abu Garara said they could produce up to two or three thousand diapers daily. However, production faces constraints due to shortages of raw materials and the fuel needed to power their electric generator.
“There’s nothing here,” said Qatati, noting that production stops if they run out of thread, electricity, or anything else. “The machine is also very basic. Six machines are working, and I can’t meet people’s needs with them.”
According to UN data, 75 percent of Gazans, or about 1.7 million people, have been displaced by the Israeli military offensive, which has reportedly killed nearly 30,000 Gazans.
The dire situation in Gaza, compounded by insufficient healthcare, overcrowding, continuous bombings, and the blockade, has led to widespread food insecurity and displacement among the population.
Mumin Abdel Al, a refugee from northern Gaza, now runs a mobile stall in Rafah selling diapers. He highlighted the exorbitant costs, with prices soaring due to monopolies and market disruptions caused by the conflict.
“The prices of diapers are very, very expensive. These diaper packs before the war cost 25 or 30 shekels, but now, due to price increases and trade monopolies, a pack of diapers costs 130 shekels.”
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