According to a recent report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the Gaza Strip continues to face a high risk of famine due to the ongoing conflict and restricted humanitarian access. The impact of food insecurity on women in Gaza is significant.
UN Women has estimated that over 557,000 women in Gaza are experiencing severe food insecurity, leading to increased vulnerability to gender-based challenges both new and longstanding.
The current situation presents a significant challenge for mothers and adult women, who frequently prioritize providing food for others over themselves. They often experience greater difficulty in accessing food compared to men, which leads many to forgo meals or reduce their own food intake in order to ensure that their children are adequately fed.
According to UN Women Website in times of conflict, the caregiving burden on women increases, their access to essential services becomes restricted, their health and food security are compromised, and they face heightened risk of experiencing various forms of gender-based violence.
In a recent survey conducted by UN Women in the Gaza Strip, several key facts have emerged regarding the impact of food insecurity on women in the region:
- Care burden: Women face challenges in ensuring the physical and mental well-being of their children, especially in overcrowded households and tents. 77% of survey respondents acknowledged that the responsibility of caregiving, including feeding and physical care, primarily falls on mothers.
- Physical health and weight loss: It is evident that food insecurity and malnutrition are prevalent in Gaza. 70% of the women interviewed reported experiencing weight loss in the past 30 days, and over half of them reported frequent dizziness.
- Food assistance: A significant portion of female respondents, over 80%, depend on food assistance as their primary source of food. However, 87.3% believe that the distribution of food assistance is unfair based on family size. Evidence collected by UN Women indicates that mothers often sacrifice their own meals to ensure their children are fed. Furthermore, 83.5% of respondents stated that the assistance provided did not meet their household’s needs.
- Complications in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum: Pregnant and lactating women are facing increased health risks due to inadequate medical care and nutrition. 76% of pregnant women reported anemia, and 99% are experiencing challenges in accessing necessary nutritional products and supplements, posing a threat to the health of both mothers and infants. Among households with breastfeeding mothers, 55% reported health conditions that hindered their ability to breastfeed, and 99% faced difficulties in obtaining enough breastmilk, compromising infant survival, growth, and development.
- Kitchen access and unsafe cooking methods: Only one-third of respondents indicated having access to a kitchen where they can cook meals. Moreover, 69% rely on unsafe cooking methods, such as using wood and other waste materials, which poses health risks. These hazardous cooking methods expose women, who typically handle meal preparation, to harmful smoke and pollutants, resulting in respiratory and other health issues.
