LAGOS Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-UN Women is shining a light on the continuing devastating effects on Gazan women as the conflict in Gaza hits its fifth month.
They have stressed that the war impacts everyone and hits women the hardest.
The UN women in a statement over the weekend ahead of the International Women’s Day slated for March 8, outlined the grim realities faced by women in Gaza.
The report states that approximately 9,000 women have lost their lives in Israeli military attacks in Gaza since the conflict began.
This figure is likely an underestimate, as many more women are feared dead beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings.
The conflict’s toll on women is staggering, with an average of 63 women killed daily at the current rate.
Mothers are particularly vulnerable, with an estimated 37 mothers losing their lives every day, leaving behind devastated families and children without adequate protection.
READ ALSO:Gaza: Biden Hopeful Of Ceasefire Deal Next Week
The war has also led to a severe food crisis, with 84 per cent of women reporting that their families now consume half or less of the food they had before the conflict.
Mothers bear the brunt of food scarcity, often sacrificing their own meals to ensure their children are fed.
Furthermore, four out of five women in Gaza report that at least one family member has skipped meals in the past week, with mothers being the ones most likely to go without food to feed their children.
With Gaza’s entire population of 2.3 million people facing acute food insecurity, the region is on the brink of starvation.
Accessing food has become increasingly difficult for women, with nine out of ten reporting greater challenges compared to men.
Some women are resorting to extreme measures, such as scavenging for food amidst the rubble or in dumpsters.
UN Women warns that without an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, the death toll will continue to rise.
The agency calls for an end to the killing, bombing, and destruction of essential infrastructure in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian assistance to reach all those in need.
Unless decisive action is taken, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza will only worsen in the coming days and weeks.