RAMALLAH, West Bank — Rima from Gaza City has been struggling for more than 18 months to obtain her divorce papers from the Sharia Court.

Six years ago, her husband left for Libya to work there, only to abandon her later on without divorcing her, leaving her with four boys and one little girl. The 45-year-old Gazan learned that her husband had married another woman in Libya when he sent the message through some Palestinians working there.

Rima found herself in a miserable situation: With no money to support her children, she was dependent on the aid of her relatives. She applied for assistance from the Ministry of Social Development, which offers divorced women a $200 monthly allowance. But as she is unable to provide divorce papers or proof of separation, she has gotten nothing so far.

“I applied to the court more than a year and a half ago to obtain divorce papers from my absent husband. My case is still sitting on the shelf there. I also went to the Women’s Health Center of the Culture and Free Thought Association, which engaged one of its lawyers to look into my case. They promised me that I will get the papers soon. I am still waiting,” Rima told Al-Monitor.