UN Women Executive: two mothers killed every hour in Gaza

New York (Quds News Network) – The Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), Sima Bahous, has revealed that “two mothers are killed every hour in the Gaza Strip” amid the ongoing Israeli war of genocide.
Bahous said in a statement that women and children are the primary victims of the tragedy, with Gaza witnessing unprecedented destruction since the commencement of the Israeli aggression over 100 days ago. She pointed out that women and girls constitute the majority of casualties, injuries, and displaced individuals.
Comparing the situation before and after October 7, 2023, Bahous highlighted a significant shift in the demographics of victims. Previously, 67% of victims were men, while less than 14% were women and girls. However, the current figures reveal a stark reversal, with 70% of the victims in Gaza being women and children.
Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, has also expressed concern over the plight of women and girls in Gaza, noting that they face catastrophic levels of humanitarian needs. Approximately 3,000 women have lost their husbands in the war or have become the sole providers for their families.
Dujarric added, “Today’s estimates indicate that around 70% of those killed in Gaza are women and children, with at least 3,000 women possibly becoming widows and heads of households. They are in urgent need of protection and food assistance.” He emphasized that children make up more than half of Gaza’s population, with over 90% of them being displaced.
Returning from a recent visit to Gaza, UNICESF spokesperson Tess Ingram shared her firsthand observations, recounting scenes of mothers bleeding to death and a nurse forced to perform cesarean sections for six deceased pregnant women.
Ingram stated that approximately 20,000 children were born into the “hell” of the Gaza war, with a new child entering the world every 10 minutes amid the ongoing conflict.
She highlighted the stark contrast between the joy of motherhood and the harrowing reality in Gaza, calling for urgent international action to address the humanitarian crisis.