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As the war on Gaza approaches its five-month mark, Gazan women continue to suffer its devastating impact. While this war spares no one, UN Women data shows that it kills and injures women in unprecedented ways. As the UN warns of a looming famine, here are seven facts as to why the war on Gaza is also a war on women.
- An estimated 9,000 women have been reportedly killed by Israeli forces in Gaza to date. This figure is likely an underestimate, as many more women are reported to be dead under the rubble.
- Every day the war in Gaza continues, at the current rate, an average of 63 women will continue to be killed.
- An estimated 37 mothers are killed every day, leaving their families devastated and their children with diminished protection.
- More than 4 out of 5 women (84 per cent) report that their family eats half or less of the food they used to before the war began, with mothers and adult women being those tasked with sourcing food, yet eating last, less, and least than everyone else.
- 4 in 5 women (84 per cent) in Gaza indicate that at least one of their family members had to skip meals during the past week. In 95 per cent of those cases, mothers are the ones going without food, skipping at least one meal to feed their children. Gaza’s entire population of 2.3 million people will be facing acute levels of food insecurity within weeks – the highest ever recorded as Gaza is on the verge of starvation.
- Nearly 9 in 10 women (87 per cent) report finding it harder to access food than men. Some women are now resorting to extreme coping mechanisms, such as scavenging for food under rubble or in dumpsters.
- 10 out of 12 women’s organizations surveyed in Gaza reported being partly operational, providing essential emergency response services. Despite their extraordinary efforts, less than 1 per cent of funding raised through the 2023 Flash Appeal has gone to national or local women’s rights organizations. Channelling funding to these organizations is crucial to meet the overwhelming needs of women and their families and communities, and to ensure that the voices of Gazan women do not go unheard.
Unless there is an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, many more will die in the coming days and weeks. The killing, bombing, and destruction of essential infrastructure in Gaza must stop. Humanitarian aid must get into and across Gaza immediately.
