During March 2024, the hostilities in Gaza escalated, exacerbating an already unprecedented and dire humanitarian situation. The scale of devastation is overwhelming, with approximately 1.7 million people displaced and entire communities obliterated. The specter of starvation looms large, particularly in the north, where around 200,000 people are trapped, with famine expected between now and May. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the death toll has reached 32,623 Palestinians, with over 7,000 missing or buried under rubble, and 75,092 injured. The urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza cannot be overstated as the region grapples with a crisis of unprecedented proportions.
UNFPA responded by delivering life-saving reproductive health supplies and gender-based violence prevention materials to health facilities and shelters across the region. This included essential pharmaceuticals, medical equipment for obstetric facilities, and postpartum kits for new mothers in IDP shelters. Additionally, UNFPA provided primary healthcare services, antenatal and postnatal care, and psychosocial support sessions for displaced women, girls, and adolescents.