Women in Gaza face multiple challenges, resulting from the ongoing blockade and conflict in the Strip. These challenges are not limited to physical aspects, but extend to mental, social and economic health, placing heavy burdens on them that exceed human endurance. The humanitarian situation is particularly affected by the most vulnerable, especially pregnant women, mothers and breastfeeding mothers, who find themselves facing harsh conditions that threaten their lives and the lives of their children.
The main challenges facing women in Gaza
Women in the Gaza Strip face a host of challenges exacerbated by the prolonged blockade and ongoing military assaults, which have directly impacted their social, economic and psychological realities.
1. Health care deterioration and its catastrophic consequences
The deterioration of the health system in Gaza is one of the biggest challenges facing women. With the collapse of medical infrastructure and shortages of basic supplies and medicines, access to health care is almost impossible. This situation directly affects:
- Lack of basic care
Pregnant women suffer from a severe lack of prenatal and postpartum care, which increases the risk of complications, miscarriage and premature birth. Many are forced to give birth in unsafe conditions, in tents or shelters that lack the minimum standards of hygiene and sterilization, putting their lives and those of their children at serious risk. Reports indicate that tens of thousands of pregnant women face serious health risks.
- The Impact of Malnutrition
Malnutrition among pregnant women increases their poor health, with many suffering from anaemia and other health problems as a result of the lack of adequate and balanced food. This deficiency negatively affects fetal development and maternal health after birth, and makes motherhood a risky journey.
2. Displacement and Loss
Repeated wars destroyed many homes, displacing thousands of women and families. They are forced to move to makeshift tents or overcrowded shelters that lack the most basic necessities. This situation creates enormous challenges:
- Lack of privacy and security
In a displacement environment, women suffer from a lack of privacy and security, leaving them at greater risk of gender-based violence. Overcrowded tents and shared facilities do not provide a safe environment for women and girls, increasing their sense of vulnerability.
- Psychological and social burden
Women carry the burden of losing husbands, sons and homes, leading to deep psychological trauma, anxiety and depression. This burden increases with the responsibility to care for families under harsh conditions and the absence of specialized psychological support services. Field testimonies indicate widespread nervous breakdown among displaced women.
3. Humanitarian crisis
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza disproportionately affects women, who face serious challenges related to food, water and the economy.
- Hunger and food insecurity
More than a million women and girls are suffering from "mass starvation" due to the blockade and war, making it difficult to secure food and water. Some women are forced to take dangerous survival strategies to look for food, putting them at additional risk. About 46,300 pregnant women suffer from high levels of hunger.
- Economic constraints and loss of livelihoods
Many women lost their sources of income due to the destruction of homes and businesses, prompting them to face food and water shortages. They become the sole breadwinners for their families under extremely difficult economic conditions, with limited humanitarian access.
Read more about What is happening to women in Gaza?
The Importance of Donating to Support Women in Gaza
Donating to support women in Gaza is a key step in strengthening their resilience in the face of dire humanitarian conditions, with women bearing the brunt of family support and childcare under siege and ongoing displacement. Financial and in-kind contributions directly contribute to the basic needs of food, medicine and clothing, and help improve health and education services for women and girls.
Supporting women in Gaza through donations also enhances their economic and social role, offering them opportunities to start small businesses or undertake training programs that enable them to build a more stable future for themselves and their families. Humanitarianly, the donation provides an umbrella of protection for the most vulnerable women, especially widows and displaced women who face a double risk in the absence of adequate resources.
