The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank has created unimaginable suffering for millions. However, a closer look reveals a devastating, gendered reality: women and girls are bearing a disproportionate and unique burden of the conflict’s consequences.
The Stark Numbers: A Crisis Measured in Women’s Lives
The data paints a harrowing picture of the impact on women and children. As of mid-January 2025:
- An estimated 70% of the over 46,000 people killed in Gaza are reported to be women and children.
- Over 110,000 Palestinians have been injured, with many more missing under the rubble.
- Even before the current escalation, nearly half of the 2.1 million people in need of humanitarian aid in the Occupied Palestinian Territory were women.
Beyond the Headlines: The Unique Struggles of Women and Girls
For the women of Gaza, survival extends beyond bombings and sieges. They face a cascade of gendered threats that turn daily life into a battle for safety and dignity.
1. Protection and Safety Risks
Overcrowded and unsafe shelters offer no privacy, significantly increasing the risk of gender-based violence. This is especially acute for single women, female-headed households, and women with disabilities.
2. Health and Dignity Under Siege
The collapse of water and sanitation (WASH) infrastructure has created a severe health crisis.
- Menstrual Hygiene: The lack of access to sanitary pads and safe, private washing facilities poses a severe health risk and causes profound psychological distress for women and girls.
- Maternal Health: For pregnant and lactating women, the scarcity of food, clean water, and a collapsed healthcare system is life-threatening for both mothers and infants.
3. Amplified Pre-Existing Inequality
The conflict has intensified structural gender discrimination in Palestine. Laws and norms that often place women under male guardianship leave them acutely vulnerable when male family members are killed, injured, or displaced.
A Call for a Gender-Sensitive Humanitarian Response
The unique needs of women and girls are not optional; they are essential. An effective humanitarian response in Gaza must be gender-responsive, ensuring that aid reaches the most vulnerable. This includes:
- Distributing dignity kits and menstrual hygiene supplies.
- Providing safe, sex-segregated latrines and bathing facilities.
- Prioritizing healthcare, especially sexual and reproductive health services.
- Targeting support to female-headed households and women with disabilities.
The international community must look beyond the aggregate numbers and see the specific faces of this crisis. The lives, health, and dignity of countless women and girls depend on a targeted response that meets their urgent needs.
For the latest data and UN Women’s detailed analysis on the impact of the conflict on women and girls, visit the official facts and figures page:
