New York: The prolonged war in Gaza has inflicted severe hardships on Gazan women, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation they face. Despite the indiscriminate nature of the war, UN Women data reveals that women are disproportionately affected, suffering unprecedented levels of casualties and injuries. 9000 women have tragically lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces, with many more feared dead and buried under the rubble.
With the United Nations warning of an imminent famine, it's crucial to understand why the war in Gaza is a war on women as well. Each day the war persists, an average of 63 women get killed, leaving behind grieving families and children without adequate protection. The impact on mothers is particularly devastating, with an estimated 37 mothers losing their lives daily, further exacerbating the vulnerability of their families.
Moreover, the war has plunged Gaza into a dire food crisis, with more than 4 out of 5 women reporting significant food shortages. Mothers and adult women, tasked with sourcing food for their families, often find themselves eating last and consuming far less than others. This has led to widespread food insecurity, with 4 in 5 women indicating that at least one family member had to skip meals in the past week, with mothers sacrificing their meals to ensure their children are fed.
The situation is compounded by unequal access to food, with nearly 9 in 10 women finding it harder to obtain food compared to men. Desperate measures, such as scavenging for food among rubble and dumpsters, have become the norm for some women in Gaza.
Despite these challenges, women's organizations continue to provide vital emergency response services, albeit with limited resources. However, their efforts are hampered by a severe lack of funding, with less than 1 per cent of the funds raised through the 2023 Flash Appeal allocated to women's rights organizations.
As the war rages on, urgent humanitarian action is imperative to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of Gazan women and their communities. A swift ceasefire is necessary to halt the killing, bombing and destruction of essential infrastructure, allowing much-needed humanitarian aid to reach those in need. Only through concerted international efforts can the voices of Gazan women be heard, ensuring their rights are upheld and their needs addressed amid this humanitarian crisis.