Gender Alert: Gaza - A War on Women’s Health

Since 7 October 2023, large-scale Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, including aerial bombing and ground offensives, have killed more than 41,000 people. Women and children account for over half of all fatalities. Some 95,000 people have been injured, and approximately 75 per cent of the population has been displaced. Most people reside in overcrowded shelters with limited access to food, water and sanitation. The war has caused a catastrophic public health crisis, leading to a spike in preventable deaths, the rapid spread of diseases, and high rates of physical and mental illnesses. After more than 11 months of war, an estimated 177,000 women face life-threatening health risks, including from non-communicable diseases and hunger and poor nutrition during pregnancy. Close to 84 per cent of health facilities has been damaged or destroyed. Those that remain lack medicine, ambulances, electricity, water and the ability to provide even basic life-saving treatments. At least 491 health-care workers have been killed: 345 men and 146 women. To better understand the gender dynamics of the health crisis, between March and April 2024, UN Women surveyed 600 people, 305 women and 295 men, across Gaza’s five governorates, asking about their health and well-being. Twelve key informant interviews provided additional perspectives. This gender alert on the war in Gaza is the fifth in a series by UN Women. It explores how the conflict has affected women’s physical and mental health and is intended to support evidence-based advocacy and services.