Since October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 41,000 people, nearly half of whom are women and children, according to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. CNN Arabic reports that approximately 75% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, with the majority living in overcrowded shelters, facing difficulties accessing food, water, and sanitation facilities.
The ongoing conflict has precipitated a public health crisis, significantly increasing mortality rates and incidences of both physical and psychological illnesses. Eleven months into the war, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality estimates that over 177,000 women in Gaza are facing life-threatening health risks, including non-communicable diseases, starvation, and malnutrition during pregnancy.
According to the United Nations, more than 162,000 women in Gaza are affected or at risk of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Additionally, over 30,841 women are at risk of diabetes, 107,443 at risk of hypertension, 18,583 at risk of cardiovascular diseases, and 5,201 women are suffering from cancer.
The agency reported that among the 155,000 pregnant and new mothers in Gaza, 15,000 pregnant women are on the brink of starvation. United Nations data also highlights the severe psychological impact of the war on Gaza’s population. Among 305 women surveyed, 75% reported frequently feeling depressed, 62% often unable to sleep, and 65% experiencing stress and nightmares most of the time.
Among the pregnant women interviewed by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality, 68% suffered from complications related to urinary tract infections, anemia, preterm birth, hypertension disorders, and bleeding risks. More than 5,000 cancer patients urgently need treatment.
The overcrowding of shelters and inadequate water and sanitation facilities have led to hundreds of thousands of cases of acute respiratory infections, jaundice, diarrhea, and skin rashes. Women account for more than two-thirds of reported cases of digestive system diseases and hepatitis A.
