The Palestinian Association for Empowerment and Local Development—REFORM has issued an assessment revealing the catastrophic humanitarian situation faced by women in the Gaza Strip. It highlights the urgent needs of the most vulnerable groups, emphasizing women's struggles with food insecurity, displacement, gender-based violence, and overall humanitarian suffering. These issues have been intensified by seven months of ongoing aggression since October 2023, compounded by the Israeli occupation's severe restrictions and limited access to aid and protection.
The Israeli war displaced approximately 85% of the Gaza Strip's population, according to multiple international reports. It caused widespread destruction and widespread famine due to the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Only a small amount of humanitarian aid was allowed in during the first seven months of the aggression, with restrictions and lack of protection hindering both access and distribution of aid.
Women in the Gaza Strip are enduring tragic conditions amidst the ongoing war, facing interconnected crises such as displacement, food insecurity, and escalating violence. At REFORM, we are striving to provide support, but intensive international intervention is crucial to improving the situation for women in the Gaza Strip.
The survey conducted by REFORM revealed that 86% of women reported insufficient water supply, and 69% experienced contamination of their available water. Additionally, 61% of women rely on humanitarian aid as their primary food source, with 85% suffering from a lack of nutritious food essential for their health and that of their families.
41% of women surveyed said they sometimes get food every day, 29% said they don’t get food every day, and 25% said they get food daily. According to the survey, 61% of women rely on humanitarian aid as their primary source of income, 32% rely on the market, 54% eat an average of one meal a day, and 85% indicated that the food they eat is not nutritious. They expressed concerns about the health effects of available market food and highlighted the need for nutritious food, especially for children, newborns, and breastfeeding mothers. Additionally, 36% of women reported having special nutritional needs for themselves or their family members that they cannot access.
Women indicated that rising prices during the war and lack of financial resources have affected their ability to purchase sufficient and nutritious food. They complained about the general scarcity of food, especially fresh fruits, vegetables, and calcium sources like eggs. Many women expressed their need for support, reduced prices, and access to a variety of healthy food options.
89% of women reported great difficulty accessing healthcare services, and 95% face severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies. The assessment indicates that 81% of women suffer from severe anxiety, and 72% suffer from depression, highlighting the urgent need for psychosocial support services.
Regarding gender-based violence, the survey results show a significant increase in the frequency of violence against women during the war. 68% of the women reported experiencing physical violence, either personally or one of their family members, while 73% reported experiencing psychological violence.
In terms of conflict preparedness and prevention, 54% of women surveyed reported having low knowledge of how to protect themselves against explosive ordnance and prevent injuries during war. 64% of women reported having low knowledge of dealing with explosive ordnance and remnants of war.
The Association calls on the international community to intervene to stop the aggression, urging NGOs and donors to ensure that essential humanitarian supplies such as clean water, nutritious food, and medical aid are safely and regularly delivered to the most vulnerable groups in Gaza. It also emphasizes the need for psychosocial support programs for women and children suffering from the psychological effects of the war.
The Association also calls for improved access to safe shelters and necessary assistance for the displaced, especially women and children, considering their special circumstances and urgent needs. It advocates for strengthened protection from gender-based violence by developing and implementing effective mechanisms to protect women and girls and providing legal and psychological support to survivors.
It is worth noting that REFORM based this assessment of women's needs in Gaza on a survey conducted with a representative sample of 382 women from various regions of Gaza: 92 from northern Gaza (specifically Beit Lahia and Jabalia), 193 from central Gaza (specifically Deir Al-Balah), and 97 from southern Gaza (specifically Rafah).
This report was prepared in partnership with Norwegian People's Aid (NPA).
To read the assessment, please click here.
