On International Women’s Day we celebrate the resilience, strength, and courage of women. In Gaza, they face immense challenges, while continuing to play a crucial role in their families and communities, often as pillars of support and agents of change.
Suhair, Seba, Wisam, and Tasnim are among the women whose determination and unwavering spirit inspire us all, despite the hardships they face.
UNICEF-SoP/2024
UNICEF-SoP/2023
In the Gaza Strip, where many internally displaced children are living in tents or shelters, Seba, a 37-year-old mother of two girls, embodies the resilience of countless Palestinian mothers. Her story illustrates the extraordinary challenges faced by families who were forced to leave their homes due to the ongoing escalation of hostilities.
UNICEF-SoP/ 2023
Wisam gave birth to her daughter during the ongoing hostilities in the Gaza Strip. “I had a cesarean section and gave birth to a girl. When I woke up from the surgery, they told me that I had to evacuate the hospital immediately.” More than 150,000 pregnant and lactating women in the Gaza Strip can’t access essential services, and the situation gets worse by the hour.
Gaza escalation | Pregnant woman delivers her baby in the Gaza Strip – YouTube
Tasnim was in her last month of pregnancy when the war started. She lost her home in the first week of the war and she was forced to move. She is challenged by insufficient nutrition to breastfeed her baby, and she is worried about whether she will have the minimum to care for her when she gives birth.
Gaza escalation | Gaza pregnant and lactating mothers – YouTube
In the challenging landscape of the Gaza Strip, our dedicated female colleagues work tirelessly to protect and support the children while also caring for their families. Despite facing numerous obstacles, they remain steadfast in their commitment.
Gaza escalation | Nesma testimony, UNICEF staff member – YouTube
UNICEF continues to support and address the needs of children and women in the Gaza Strip through the provision of life-saving and medical supplies, hygiene kits, warm clothes, vaccines, nutritional supplements, water and food, as well as MHPSS services and humanitarian cash assistance.
All this would not be possible without the support of UNICEF’s partners including European Union Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the World Bank and the governments of Australia, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Document Sources: United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)
Subject: Armed conflict, Casualties, Children, Gaza Strip, Women
Publication Date: 08/03/2024
URL source: https://www.unicef.org/sop/stories/challenges-being-woman-today-gaza