LOC16:11
13:11 GMT
GENEVA, Nov 25 (KUNA) -- The UN Women office announced on Tuesday, that more than 12,000 women and girls are currently living with long-term disabilities caused by the ongoing bombardment of Gaza Strip.
Head of UN Women's office in Geneva, Sophia Calltorp, explained during a press briefing held in Geneva to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls that more than 57,000 women have now become heads of their households "struggling to rebuild in the impossible even with a ceasefire as food is still scarce and completely out of reach for Women with no income".
Calltorp said women in Gaza are living "a psychological war parallel to the military one" noting that every woman she met had lost at least two members of her family.
She stressed that women in Gaza "are waiting for real peace" adding "the attacks have decreased but the killing has not stopped."
Calltorp explained also the dire condition in Gaza saying that the recent waves of rain and cold have exposed the fragility of the temporary tents which leak water and leave children shivering through the night.
She called for increasing the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza in a systematic and safe manner for ensuring that the ceasefire holds as well as reaching a peace that guarantees life and safety for every woman and girl and for all civilians.
She emphasized UN Women's commitment to continue working alongside the women of Gaza and to enable them to play a central role in recovery and reconstruction efforts. (end)
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