They face unimaginable poverty

Hamas carried out the largest attack against Israel in recent years. The Israeli army declared a “state of war alert.” While warm contacts continue in the region, the Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, Sarah Hendricks, drew attention to the struggle for survival of women living in Gaza, which is under Israeli siege. Hendricks noted that women, girls and their families in Gaza “continue to face unimaginable death and poverty,” and stressed the seriousness of the Israeli attacks on Palestine.

Hendricks noted that women and children who were forced to live in shelters in Gaza are struggling to survive in crowded environments without sufficient food, water, sanitary materials and privacy, and stated that there are not even working toilets in these shelters, which puts people’s health at risk. .

Hendricks stated that according to UN Women data, “about 1,800 women in Gaza have become widows as a result of conflicts and attacks, and about 744,000 women have been displaced,” adding that “the impact of this conflict on women and girls has reached a level that cannot be described in words.” As in all conflicts, women are “disproportionately affected by events. If they survive these events, it may take years for them to receive treatment,” he said.

Humanitarian system ‘on the verge of collapse’

Hendricks stated that the humanitarian aid system in the Gaza Strip, to which 500 trucks arrived one day before the events, was “on the verge of collapse,” and noted that the region’s needs for clean water, food, medicine, and fuel are great. It is increasing day by day, and hospitals and water purification systems in particular depend on fuel supplies.

Hendricks noted that women, their daughters and their families living in Gaza “continue to face death and unimaginable poverty, and pregnant women who have to care for their children face many difficulties,” Hendricks pointed to data from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). He stated that besieged Gaza stated that “there are 50,000 women in Turkey, 180 of these women give birth every day and 15 percent need additional medical assistance due to childbirth and pregnancy.”

Hendricks stated that after the closure of 14 hospitals and 45 health centers in Gaza, women were forced to give birth in inappropriate environments such as “shelters and homes amid rubble or overcrowded health centers,” with medical problems and the risk of infection. She added: “These women are unable to guarantee the functional health of the facilities.” “They face great difficulties in accessing safe delivery services due to their inability to work and the lack of life-saving supplies.” He said.

Noting that women in Gaza may face medical and psychological difficulties because they do not have access to clean toilets and hygiene products, Hendricks said: “On behalf of all the women and girls living this nightmare in Gaza, we continue to call for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire.” “We continue to call for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and the provision of essential supplies and services.” “Humanitarian access to and from Gaza must be allowed unhindered, and all hostages must be released.” He said.