Gaza Humanitarian Crisis: UNFPA Representative Briefs UN Press

Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis: A Population Holding Its Breath

• 💔 Gaza is described as a population "holding its breath, suspended between survival and uncertainty," with the ceasefire offering only a temporary respite.
• 😔 The trauma remains profound, and the ceasefire has not ended the war for women and girls on physical, emotional, or economic levels.
• 🏠 Over 57,000 households are now women-headed, facing deep vulnerability and lack of income, exacerbated by winter rains and flooding.
• 📉 People's expectations have collapsed, with basic needs now reduced to a tent or a small heater, a stark contrast to previous aspirations for homes and education.

Devastated Health Sector and Maternal Care

• 🏥 The health sector is shattered, with only about one-third of facilities partially functional, overwhelmed, and lacking basic supplies.
• 👶 Neonatal units are overcrowded, and staff work under immense pressure, facing power cuts and extreme personal loss.
• 🛠️ Rebuilding the maternal health sector requires equipping destroyed facilities, ensuring a steady flow of medicines, and restoring health workforce and referral pathways.
• ⚠️ Access to essential medical equipment, like ultrasound devices, is restricted due to being classified as "dual-use items," hindering complete service delivery.

Gender-Based Violence and Youth Support

• ⚠️ Gender-based violence is rising in overcrowded and privacy-lacking shelters, posing significant risks to women and girls.
• 🫂 Rebuilding and reopening safe spaces, reactivating referral pathways, and strengthening women-led organizations are crucial for trauma-informed care.
• 🚀 Youth are determined to rebuild their future, with a need for skills development in leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship to contribute to community recovery.

Access Challenges and Humanitarian Needs

• 🚧 Predictable, sustained, and safe humanitarian access through all crossings, especially to North Gaza, is essential for recovery to gain momentum.
• ⏳ Significant delays persist due to limited open crossings, red tape, and complex coordination processes for bringing in supplies.
• 💧 UNFPA supports 22 health facilities and 14 women and girls' safe spaces, with plans to double this support, but access remains a critical bottleneck.
• 🆘 Humanitarian efforts are hampered by restrictions on essential supplies and staff clearances, limiting the capacity to deliver much-needed services.