15,000 women and girls in Gaza receive life-saving assistance from UN Women and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization

[Joint press release]

For immediate release

(Jordan, 26 February 2024) – 15,000 women and girls in Gaza will receive life-saving assistance, as a result of a partnership between UN Women and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO). Supported by the Jordan Armed Forces, a first shipment left Jordan by cargo plane today for Al-Arish, to deliver much needed humanitarian assistance for women and girls in the Gaza strip.

“Under the United Nations Flash Appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), UN Women has partnered with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization in its efforts to support women in Gaza, in coordination with our offices in OPT,” said Nicolas Burniat, Country Representative, Jordan, UN Women. “UN Women commends the Jordanian government for its strong advocacy with the international community for a ceasefire and for its unwavering efforts to strengthen the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, especially their support for women and girls.” he added.

More than 1.9 million people - 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza- have been forcibly displaced amid ongoing Israeli military operations. Among them are one million women and girls enduring unbearable suffering, disease and risk of famine. Half of these are sheltering in Rafah, fearing for their lives with nowhere to go. Recent figures indicate that 70 per cent of Palestinians killed in the war in Gaza so far were women and children, and that two mothers are killed in Gaza every hour.

“The partnership with UN Women reflects our shared commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and providing assistance during times of crisis, together, we are working to ensure that women and children in Gaza receive the support they urgently require,” said Dr. Hussein Al Shebli, Secretary General of JHCO.

In addition to this support, UN Women, in partnership with the World Food Programme, aims to reach 75,000 women and their family with unconditional cash and food baskets. Recently, UN Women and the Egypt Red Crescent also delivered urgent items to 7,000 women and children in Gaza.

Additionally, UN Women is partnering with women-led organizations to deliver gender responsive services and to address the different challenges women and girls in Gaza face, including protection and well-being.

UN Women continues to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and that no effort be spared to ensure women’s and girls’ protection and safe access to rapid, unimpeded, and gender-responsive humanitarian assistance.