UN Women warns 177,000 women in Gaza face critical health risks
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The destruction of more than 84% of health facilities in Gaza has left the remaining services without basic life-saving supplies, electricity, and clean water.
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A pregnant Palestinian woman displaced from northern Gaza stands in a warehouse where she is taking shelter in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on February 29, 2024. (AFP)
UN Women's latest report on Gaza reveals the excruciating toll women endure amid the collapse of healthcare services and the lack of access to essential medicines.
Titled War on Women's Health in Gaza, the report warns that more than 177,000 women face life-threatening health risks, with 162,000 affected or at risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
The report also highlights that 15,000 pregnant women are on the verge of famine, further increasing their vulnerability to serious complications like infections, anemia, and hypertensive disorders.
Read more: In Gaza, two mothers are killed per hour: UN Women
84% of health facilities destroyed in Gaza
Amid this healthcare crisis, pregnant and breastfeeding women face the most critical challenges, with a majority of them reporting severe health issues due to the lack of reproductive health services.
The destruction of more than 84% of health facilities in Gaza has left the remaining services without basic life-saving supplies, electricity, and clean water.
In addition to their health struggles, women are also carrying the burden of being the primary caregivers for their families, often prioritizing their families' needs over their own.
This situation has worsened as hunger and starvation conditions increase, with women often eating last and least in their households.
The re-emergence of polio is adding even more pressure to an already fragile healthcare system, threatening the well-being of women and children alike.
Read more: UN chief says 'no alternative to UNRWA', urges support
The report calls for urgent action to address these issues.
UN Women echoed the UN Secretary-General's call for an immediate ceasefire, safe humanitarian access, and the protection of healthcare workers to prevent further deterioration of the health situation in Gaza.
They also stress the need for gender-sensitive healthcare services and support for women-led organizations working on the ground.
'Israel' killed almost 17,000 children in Gaza in less than a year
Earlier today, the head of Gaza’s Government Media Office informed Anadoly Agency that "Israel" has murdered around 17,000 children since it launched its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023.
According to Ismail al-Thawabta, at least 16,859 children, including 171 infants, have been killed by the Israeli war machine since October 7.
He further added that "around 25,973 Palestinian children now live in Gaza without one or both parents due to the Israeli aggression."
The Israeli war on Gaza has left an unbearable mark on the enclave's children, ensuring a lifetime's worth of challenges if they survive.
