New York, MINA – A senior official from UN Women has described the situation facing women and girls in the Gaza Strip as one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in the world, urging the international community to increase support.
Speaking at a press briefing at United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday, Sarah Hendriks, director for policy, programme and intergovernmental support at UN Women, said women and girls in Gaza are struggling to survive amid the ongoing conflict.
“Women and girls in Gaza are living through one of the most devastating humanitarian tragedies in the world, where survival itself has become a daily struggle,” Hendriks said.
She also expressed solidarity with women across the Middle East as violence continues to escalate in the region and echoed the call by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for an end to the fighting.
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According to Hendriks, UN Women has been working closely with women-led organizations in Gaza to respond to urgent needs, including displacement, trauma and growing insecurity.
However, she stressed that the needs of women in Gaza go beyond emergency assistance.
“Women are not only trying to survive. They are demanding dignity, justice, livelihoods and a role in rebuilding their future,” she said.
Hendriks emphasized that the resilience and leadership shown by women in Gaza must be matched also by the sustained humanitarian access, protection and investment from across the international community.
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She also highlighted a broader global trend, noting that an estimated 676 million women and girls live within 50 kilometers of conflict zones worldwide, where access to justice and protection is often severely limited.
Describing the current situation as a critical turning point, Hendriks urged global leaders to rethink priorities.
“Gender equality is not separate from peace and security,” she said. “It is indeed a precondition for it.”[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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