Youth-Established Accessible Bathrooms For People with Disabilities in Displacement Camps

Aiming to integrate people with disabilities and facilitate access to services amid the ongoing war, the Social Developmental Forum’s Youth Network launched the “Fundamental Accessible Services” initiative.

This initiative reflects SDF’s commitment to inclusive relief interventions for all community members. Three accessible public restroom facilities were installed at a displacement camp in Al-Zawaida, Middle Area of the Gaza Strip, to meet the needs of people with disabilities and the elderly.

1,200 Displaced Individuals

These newly installed bathrooms serve approximately 1,200 displaced people in the camp, including around 15 people with disabilities and elderly individuals who face significant challenges accessing bathrooms.

SDF’s project manager, Hadeel Abu Zaid noted that the initiative reflects the SDF’s efforts to provide various services to all community segments, especially people with disabilities—a focal targeted group for SDF.

People with disabilities are among the most affected groups during the war, facing a doubled struggle in evacuation and displacement, which necessitates institutional efforts to provide accessible services to alleviate these challenges.

Hadeel Abu Zaid, project manager, SDF

Naeem Al-Mazeen is a 48-year-old displaced from Jabalia. He takes shelter along with his nine family members in a tent at the camp where the bathrooms were installed. Expressing his relief, he says: “Given the large number of displaced people in the camp, access to bathrooms has been difficult. This initiative will make it more convenient for us”

There are numerous challenges, including a lack of sanitation, water, and bathrooms. The Social Developmental Forum provided this initiative to ease the situation for the displaced in the area.

Haitham Awad, 22, one of the camp managers

He explained that “the bathrooms help ease the burden for several people with disabilities and the elderly in the camp, making it easier for them to use the facilities.”

Ongoing youth-led interventions

The initiative was organized by a group of the SDF’s youth network, within a series of relief interventions that aims to support displaced people in the Gaza Strip.

SDF’s youth network member, Marwan Qashlan, along with his teammates led this intervention, aiming to mitigate the burden of displaced people by installing supplies in the bathrooms accessible. They dug into the bathrooms’ septic well and assisted in installing supplies and drainage lines.

Reflecting on his experience Marwan says: “I am proud of such experience. Despite the surrounding circumstances of the war, Palestinian youth are naturally proactive. Our determination has not waned. We will remain dedicated to alleviating the burden of our community.”

Members of the SDF’s youth network have been “on demand” and hand in hand to engage in field intervention that aims to support displaced communities in the Gaza Strip.

This initiative is part of a series of youth-led relief efforts under the “Reclaiming Hope for Palestinians” project, funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Education Above All (EAA).