Since the escalation of violence between Palestinian armed groups and Israeli forces on October 7, the humanitarian system in Gaza is facing a total collapse with unimaginable consequences for more than 2 million civilians. The continued siege on Gaza is affecting water supply, food, medicine and other basic needs. Total fatalities have reached over 11,180 as of November 13, of whom 67 percent are children and women, and will keep rising as the telecommunications shutdown has brought the already challenging delivery of humanitarian assistance to a complete halt (Reliefweb International, UN OCHA).

An estimated 1.5 million people are internally displaced due to ongoing hostilities, disproportionately impacting displaced women and girls who face elevated risks of sexual and labor exploitation, trafficking in persons, and forced marriage. Limited access to health services due to lack of electricity, medical supplies and destruction of medical infrastructure poses a great risk to the over 50,000 pregnant women and their newborns.

While local women’s organizations in Gaza, the West Bank and across Palestine are serving as first responders on the ground to deliver humanitarian assistance and ensure the specific needs of women and girls are met and their rights protected, they are severely underfunded. This is why the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund is mobilizing urgently needed financing to help sustain their operations as they continue to provide critical support to their communities on the front lines.

Join us and give what you can today to support local women’s organizations leading the humanitarian response on the front lines of Palestine and around the world. Thank you for your support.