Data reveals chilling toll: 10,000 women dead, 19,000 kids orphaned in Gaza

The conflict in Gaza has taken a devastating toll on women, with a significant shift in the demographics of casualties. Previously, a majority of casualties were men, but now women and children are the primary victims, underlining the need for urgent humanitarian action.

Since October, around 9,000 women have lost their lives, and many more remain unaccounted for, buried under rubble. Every day, an average of 63 women face death, leaving behind shattered families. Thousands of women have become widows, struggling to rebuild their lives, while 10,000 children may have lost their fathers.

Even before the conflict, Gaza was a dangerous place, with nearly all residents living in fear. Now, the situation has worsened, with thousands of women injured, displaced, and orphaned children left vulnerable.

Food security has also been severely impacted, with most families consuming half or less of their usual food intake. Women, responsible for sourcing food, face increasing challenges, resorting to extreme measures like scavenging for food.

Structural gender discrimination exacerbates women’s vulnerabilities, increasing the risk of gender-based violence and food insecurity. Reproductive health services are also in crisis, with hospitals struggling due to bombings and shortages of essential supplies.

The scarcity of hygiene products, including sanitary pads, poses serious health risks to menstruating women and girls, exposing them to infections and psychological distress. Access to clean water is vital for breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women, yet it remains a challenge amidst the conflict.

Emergency C-sections are being performed without anesthesia due to shortages, putting the lives of mothers and newborns at risk. This dire situation requires urgent international intervention to save lives and alleviate the suffering of women and children in Gaza.

Repurposed article originally published in She the people