DaysofPal – Women and girls in Gaza are bearing a triple burden under Israel’s ongoing military assault, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which warns of a worsening humanitarian crisis for females in the besieged enclave.
“They suffer with their own health – with many of the health facilities and the infrastructure almost completely brought to a halt, … with medication and supplies being denied. Their malnutrition is also at risk, and they also are the caretakers for their families, so they put their own health and wellbeing aside,” said Laila Baker, UNFPA’s regional director for Arab states, in an interview with Al Jazeera from Cairo.
Baker emphasized the mounting risks for pregnant women, many of whom struggle to find functioning medical centers, let alone reach them safely due to the constant threat of Israeli airstrikes.
“Even if they could get there, would there be a professional? Will there be aid? Will there be medication? Can they get back to their place, a tent, a displacement center, safely? … Will that newborn actually survive the conditions in Gaza with food, water, shelter being in such limited supplies?” she asked.
Despite the bleak conditions, Baker highlighted the remarkable resilience she witnessed among women and girls during her interactions in Gaza.
“What I got from those women was … that they were proud to be Palestinian women and to live in their country and to remain, to be able to be steadfast and remain on the Palestinian land,” she said.
The UN has repeatedly sounded the alarm over the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system, with women and children among the most vulnerable.
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