Gaza: Gender -based violence escalated in the midst of war and displacement

Suhair works in a safe space for women and girls in Deir Al -Balah Governorate, central Gaza. Suhair tells her experience of the United Nations Population Fund by saying: “We have seen a sharp increase in the number of survivors who ask for help. We work under very difficult conditions, including repeated penetration operations. There are no safe spaces for women and their children.”

The repeated forced displacement, restrictions on movement, fuel and electricity interruption for long periods have increased the difficulty of helping the most vulnerable groups. Suhair added: “We offer our services over the phone because the survivors cannot access safe spaces.”

Risks of mental and physical health

Not only do safe spaces provide shelter, but also provide psychological support and adaptation mechanisms to help manage the growing mental health crisis.

Ibtisam, 58, says to the United Nations Population Fund: “Women have suffered heavy losses, including the death or imprisonment of their relatives. Searching for water, living without any privacy, and constant anxiety is exhausting.”

With more than 714,000 people – a third of Gaza population – forced to displace again during the past three months, families dispersed, and the local support structures that they were previously depended on.

Women and girls in particular describe their feeling of fear in the streets, in the distribution points of aid, and in the overcrowded temporary shelters that lack privacy, sanitation, or the slightest security measures.

Amal – who works at the Women’s Affairs Center supported by the United Nations Population Fund in Al -Bureij Refugee Camp. “Repeated displacement has led to a state of instability and deep insecurity, as air raids never stop.”

A mother tells three children, fought four times and lost ten members of her family when her house was bombed by saying: “Despite the severe pain and loss, I continued to work, the introduction of psychological support for women to alleviate their suffering. As a working woman, I face an additional burden represented in an attempt to balance my family’s requirements and my responsibilities outside the home – which has become increasingly difficult under the war.”

Access to the most vulnerable groups

Four months after Israel had prevented humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, almost all displacement sites reported some people in the open, without any means of protection. The workers in safe spaces listened to many painful certificates, but these accounts are still much lower than reality, mainly due to the stigma, fear of revenge and lack of information about the available services.

With the collapse of health, social and justice systems, many survivors are unable to report off or seek care, which exacerbates their shock and enhances the impunity of the aggressors.

Asma, who works in a safe area supported by the United Nations Population Fund in North Gaza, said: “One of the most important aspects of practical empowerment with disabilities to access health and other services.”

With severe restrictions on movement, telecommunications networks, and increasing security risks, survivors of disabilities – who are already facing increasing barriers in obtaining support – are more isolated, and non -visible in light of the collapse of the protection system.

Asma, who had to move ten times since the war began, said: “Despite all the difficulties, I continue to support the women and women who are enlisted. I feel deep sympathy with every situation I support. I completely understand the pain of need, hunger and frequent displacement.”

Steadfastness

Amid the ongoing disturbances caused by hostilities and evacuation orders, many service providers have their basic equipment and files, which means that they are forced to re -establish their services from scratch, in circumstances that are often impossible.

Some have resorted to remote support, but the lack of fuel also caused widespread interruptions in communications, which cut off hot lines to help survivors, and even made cases management remotely.

As fuel deficiency reducing biological infrastructure, the United Nations has warned of the possibility of the collapse of humanitarian operations completely, and fuel is expected to run out of about 80% of health facilities that provide life -saving care in the coming days.

Since March 7, no supplies from the United Nations Population Fund have entered into Gaza. Also, the monthly cleaning groups and other agency equipment have exhausted. It closed three safe areas supported by the United Nations Population Fund, and the remaining fourteen places operate with a very limited card.

In this context, Salma, a mother of four children and a director of cases in Khan Yunis: said: “We feel the urgent needs of women and realize the importance of their support. A simple effort may make a big difference in their lives.”

This article was written in English on the United Nations Population Fund website, and we transferred it with behavior. You can see the English version in The following link.