Gaza women-headed households double since October 2023

A report published by UN Women, titled ‘Left to carry households alone: War and the rise of women-headed households in Gaza’, details the dramatic shift in family structures within the Gaza Strip following the events of October 7, 2023.

Data indicates that nearly one in four households in Gaza is now headed by a woman, totaling approximately 86,290 families or 23% of the total. This rate has doubled since October 2023. The report clarifies that this increase is not due to female empowerment, but rather the absence of men due to death, disappearance, detention, or unknown fates.

Women in these households face the immense burden of making vital decisions alone, including securing food, shelter, and humanitarian assistance, while managing limited resources and caring for relatives. These challenges are compounded by severe shortages of clean water, food, hygiene products, and essential services, alongside systemic inequalities regarding access to income, property, and documentation.