Women in Gorom Plead for Dignity Kits, Cite Dire Needs

By Jenifer James

In the dusty plains of Gorom, just outside Juba, South Sudan, the resilience of refugee women is being tested not only by displacement but also by the ongoing struggle for dignity kits.

With little to no access to sanitary supplies, women and girls in the settlement are resorting to using torn bedsheets during their menstrual periods, an act they describe as humiliating, unhygienic, and isolating.

“Life is not all okay, especially for women here,” said Adela Uchala Gora, a mother who has lived in the camp for more than two years. “For those who don’t have sanitary pads, they’re forced to cut bedsheets to manage their periods. It’s not something we want to do; it’s something we have no choice about.”

A reporter from The Dawn Newspaper visited Gorom this week and spoke with several women who shared similar stories. Many explained that the lack of menstrual hygiene products not only causes physical discomfort but also prevents them from participating in everyday life. Work, school, and even stepping outside their shelters can become nearly impossible during menstruation.

“Sometimes the blood flow is too much; it stains our clothes,” Adela explains. “It’s embarrassing. That’s why some women don’t even go out to hustle or work when they’re on their period; they just stay inside.”

With dignity kits containing pads, soap, and underwear in short supply, women like Adela are left with few options. Beyond the health risks, she worries about what this means for girls and young women growing up in the camp.

“How can our daughters grow with confidence when every month they are hiding, afraid someone will notice?” she asks. “Menstruation should not feel like a punishment.”

Adela’s voice is calm but resolute. She wants donors and aid organisations to understand the urgent need.

“My message to well-wishers is this: please help us, the women in Gorom, with sanitary pads so we don’t have to keep using bedsheets,” she pleads. “We may be refugees, but we are still women. We deserve dignity too.”

Meanwhile, Gasima Abubakar Musa highlighted the severe challenges women face in accessing dignity kits within the camp.

“Currently, women are going through a lot when it comes to managing menstruation with dignity,” she said.

“I am among those who have been forced to use old bedsheets during my period because I simply cannot afford to buy sanitary pads or underwear. It’s extremely difficult and uncomfortable to manage menstruation using just a piece of cloth, but we have no other choice. Sanitary items are too expensive, and many of us have no source of income,” she added.

Despite ongoing efforts by humanitarian agencies to provide relief and support to displaced populations across South Sudan, many women in the Gorom camp feel left behind. They continue to hope that their voices will be heard and that more targeted support will be provided to meet their urgent needs.