UNFPA warns of unprecedented humanitarian crisis for women and girls in Gaza and the West Bank

Published at: 17/06/2026 09:06 AM

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has issued a new alert regarding the alarming deterioration of living, health and security conditions faced by women and girls in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Faced with persistent instability, the agency stressed that the collapse of the health system, combined with severe mobility restrictions and increased violence, has left thousands of women in a situation of extreme vulnerability, both in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank.

In Gaza, the medical infrastructure is devastated, and UNFPA has established itself as an essential lifesaver for maternal health. According to data from the organization, the agency finances about 70% of reproductive health services in the enclave, having provided direct assistance for 45,000 of the 60,000 births registered in 2025. Despite these efforts, the representative of UNFPA, Nestor Owomuhangi, warned that response capacity remains under unsustainable pressure due to funding shortfalls and constant barriers to the supply of vital supplies.

The situation in the West Bank is no less worrying, where access to health facilities is severely hampered by increased checkpoints, movement restrictions and increased settler violence. These factors not only prevent women from receiving basic prenatal and post-natal care, but they also exacerbate the risks of gender-based violence and deteriorating mental health, subjecting the population to a constant state of insecurity and fear.

The UN urgently calls on the international community to ensure the protection of women and girls, who face repeated displacement and deprivation of essential services.

UNFPA emphasizes that without safe and continuous access to humanitarian assistance, the risk of obstetric complications and preventable deaths will continue to rise, demanding immediate action to restore dignity and the right to health throughout the region.

Mazo News Team