Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
October 17, 2025 Women
One in seven families in Gaza is now headed by a single woman. Having lost their husbands, homes, and jobs, these women are left alone to care for their children and rebuild their communities. This was stated today at a briefing in Geneva by Sophia Calthorpe, UN Women's humanitarian program manager.
The crisis is not over
After the ceasefire, she noted, the crisis didn't end; it merely changed shape. Today, more than a million women and girls in Gaza need food aid.
Over the past week, the first shipments of humanitarian aid have begun arriving in Gaza. Residents have received food, water, medicine, and personal hygiene items. For many women, this is their first chance for respite in months and the chance to sleep in silence, not to the sound of airstrikes.
However, many remain homeless with winter approaching and lack any confidence in the future. On average, women in Gaza have been forced to flee their homes and shelters four times during the war.
UN Women partners with other UN agencies to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance tailored to their needs. The organization strives to make them not just recipients of aid, but participants in the recovery process.
Women must play a central role in Gaza's reconstruction
"Women and girls must be the architects of Gaza's recovery," Calthrop said.
She recalled that even during the war, organizations and small businesses headed by women, as well as female teachers and medical workers, did not stop their work.
"Many of them never stopped, even in the darkest days. They continued to provide care, protection, and hope," Calthorpe said.
According to her, it is women who have the power to transform survival into restoration. "Every woman who restores a bakery, a clinic, or a school classroom restores the world," she said.
Calthrop noted that every dollar invested in women-led projects generates eight dollars in economic benefits for society. By excluding women from reconstruction processes, the international community risks excluding them from Gaza's future.
"If we believe in peace, we must restore it through women," Calthorpe said.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.