CAIRO, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Hend Al-Shalqani, manager of the Researches and Studies Department at the Arab Women Organization affiliated with the Arab League, expressed concerns about the dire situation faced by women in the war-torn Gaza Strip on Friday, the International Women's Day.
"Women in Gaza experience extreme tragic conditions. Sounds of armed conflicts and their gloomy impacts on women and children are heard in the Arab region," she said during an interview in the Egyptian capital Cairo.
Al-Shalqani emphasized the plight of women in the Gaza Strip, who have been living in horrors of killings, displacement, and starvation since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in October last year. She also highlighted the shortages of necessities such as food, water, and medicine, saying that women in Gaza now face an increasing threat of death.
In a press release issued on March 1, UN Women estimates that 9,000 women have been reportedly killed by Israeli forces since the conflict erupted five months ago. However, the figure is likely to be higher, as many more women are believed to be dead under the rubble.
Al-Shalqani added that the dire conditions faced by women are not confined to Gaza but are also expanding to encompass the West Bank and Jerusalem, where instances of abuse and raids are reported.
According to her, the Arab Women Organization was among the first bodies to promptly communicate with international agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations Human Rights Council, and other UN agencies to urge a halt to the Israeli "aggression", facilitate the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid and prevent the collective punishment, killings, and forced displacement of Palestinians.
The official underscored the importance of collective efforts by the international community to address the current challenges faced by women affected by armed conflicts.
Al-Shalqani also highlighted the disastrous conditions in Sudan, where nearly eight million people are internally and externally displaced, and a similar situation in unstable Yemen, where women are also enduring significant hardships.
She cautioned that women are among the most affected groups by conflicts and displacement, noting that they often face egregious violations during these crises and the rise of negative phenomena such as early marriages and the lack of education. ■
