Gaza: At least 557,000 women in Gaza are in crisis

These Women are facing severe food insecurity 

A family is seen sitting around a bowl of beans in their tent in Rafah, in the
south of the Gaza Strip. (Photo: UNICEF/Abed Zagout)

Gaza: 27th June 2024: (UN Women News//The women Screen Desk):: 

A high risk of famine persists across the Gaza Strip as long as the ongoing conflict continues and humanitarian access remains restricted, according to a new report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Food insecurity affects women in Gaza in multiple ways. UN Women estimates that at least 557,000 women in Gaza are facing severe food insecurity, and find themselves facing old and new gender-based vulnerabilities.

The situation is particularly concerning for mothers and adult women, who often prioritize feeding others over themselves and report greater difficulty accessing food compared to men, leading many to skip meals or reduce their intake to ensure their children are fed. Amid the conflict, women’s care burden is increased, their access to services is limited, their health and food security are compromised, and they face higher risks of being subjected to all types of gender-based violence. 

Here are five key facts explaining how food insecurity affects women in Gaza, based on a recent UN Women survey of people across the Gaza Strip1: Care burden: Women struggle to protect their children's physical and mental well-being while bearing increased caregiving and domestic responsibilities, particularly in tents and overcrowded households. Seventy-seven percent of male and female survey respondents reported that caring for children, including feeding and physical care, is primarily a mother's responsibility. 

Physical health and weight loss: 

Food insecurity and malnutrition are widespread in Gaza. Seven out of 10 women interviewed by UN Women reported weight loss in the last 30 days, and more than half experience frequent dizziness. Food assistance: Over 80 per cent of female respondents rely on food assistance as their primary source of food, yet 87.3 per cent believe that food assistance is not distributed fairly based on family size. Previous evidence collected by UN Women suggests that mothers often eat last and least, skipping meals to feed their children. Additionally, 83.5 per cent stated that the assistance did not meet their household needs. Complications in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum: Pregnant and lactating women face heightened health risks due to insufficient medical care and nutrition. Seventy-six per cent of pregnant women reported anemia, and 99 per cent face challenges accessing necessary nutritional products and supplements, endangering maternal and infant health. 

Among households with breastfeeding mothers, 55 per cent reported health conditions impeding their ability to breastfeed, and 99 per cent faced challenges securing enough breastmilk, compromising infant survival, growth, and development. 

Kitchen access and unsafe cooking methods:

Only one-third of respondents reported having access to a kitchen where they can cook meals. Additionally, 69 per cent rely on unsafe cooking methods, such as using wood and other waste materials, which increases health risks. Women, who traditionally handle meal preparation, are exposed to hazardous smoke and pollutants, leading to respiratory and other health issues. “When we were living in Gaza City, because of the war, suddenly we did not have food anymore,” said one 16-year-old girl interviewed as part of UN Women’s survey.

“There were no vegetables in the market and no food at all. We had to eat the worst things.” “For example, white flour was not available; we had to mix wheat flour with animal fodder,” she said. “Since it was the first time for us to eat animal fodder, our stomachs were in pain. Everyone suffered from stomach pain. We had days where there was no food at all, we felt tired and exhausted. 

Also, there were no hospitals, and some days we could not leave the house because of the bombing. ”Recommended actions Allow for humanitarian access: Ensure unimpeded access to all populations across the Gaza Strip. Provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance: Address the extremely high severity and magnitude of acute food insecurity and alarming WASH and health conditions through the restoration of health, nutrition, and WASH services, and the provision of safe, nutritious, and sufficient humanitarian food assistance to all the people in need. 

All aid supplies, including medicines, fuel, and other necessities, should be allowed to enter and move throughout the Gaza Strip. Provide malnutrition prevention services and treatment: Deliver acute malnutrition treatment services, while maintaining and protecting stabilization centres and outpatient treatment. Promote and support breastfeeding, and provide ready to use infant formula for non-breastfed infants. Provide complementary foods and micronutrient supplements for young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, the chronically ill, and the elderly. 

Restore production and market systems: Restore the functioning of market infrastructure and bakeries, combined with cash-based interventions where feasible. Rehabilitate food production systems as soon as possible, including horticulture, livestock, and fishing. Commercial good delivery should continue, however not at the expense of humanitarian assistance. 

1. UN Women survey of 295 men and 305 women across the Gaza Strip, April 2024

Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

 Thursday16th May 2024 at 8:11 PM

UN Women issued a statement on this International Day

"No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all"

Courtesy> International Trade Union Confederation

The theme of this year’s International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, ‘Leave No One Behind Equality, Freedom, and Justice for All’, underscores the urgent need to address the persistent discrimination, violence, and marginalization faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ+) persons worldwide.

Almost a decade after the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development made ‘Leave No One Behind’ a defining principle of our collective actions for positive change, we see welcome progress. As of late 2023, more than 100 countries had taken proactive measures to safeguard the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons. Legal reforms in 35 UN Member States have ushered in full marriage equality for same-sex couples. In 43 UN Member States, discrimination is prohibited on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics.

However, ongoing persecution against LGBTIQ+ people continues at alarming levels in many countries. Anti-homosexuality trends continue to be seen in many countries, as well as explicit criminalization of same-sex relations. There has also been a wave of legislative efforts to restrict the rights of transgender people, and the ascent of ‘anti-propaganda’ laws. Only 37 Member States formally grant asylum to persons who have experienced discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics. Moreover, in crises, marginalized groups including LGBTIQ+ groups tend to experience the worst impacts of those crises and yet are routinely denied much-needed tailored assistance.  

2024 is the biggest electoral year in history–posing a unique opportunity to demand accountability from decision makers and power holders, to dismantle oppressive systems, to promote legislative reforms and inclusive policies that protect rights, to promote and protect the inclusion, participation, and leadership of LGBTIQ+ persons in the democratic process as the only path to achieve equality, freedom, and justice for all.

As we commemorate this day, UN Women urges all stakeholders to foster intersectional alliances and act in solidarity with other critical movements to help drive our common goal of realizing equality, justice, and freedom for all.

Concerning the title of the day, UN Women underscores the implicit centrality of persons with diverse sex characteristics.

"Anemia a major issue among women and children"

Dr Pankaj Malhotra explained the issue during a public lecture on ‘Rice Fortification’

Chandigarh: 22nd February 2024: (Karthika Kalyani Singh//The Women Screen Desk)::

A Public lecture on ‘Rice Fortification’ was organized under the Technical Support Unit by the Department of Hematology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh in collaboration with United Nations World Food Program (WFP) on 20th February, 2024.

Dr. Reena Das, Prof and Head, Department of Hematology, PGIMER, Chandigarh welcomed the guest and participants. The Chief Guest was Dr. Anita Kharab, Joint Director, Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Government of Haryana. The Guest of Honor was Dr. Sunidhi Karol, Program Officer under Anemia Programme and Nodal Officer for Aspirational District, Government of Haryana. Dr. Sunidhi highlighted the increasing prevalence of anemia among the women and children and all the programs by the GoI under the safety net programs. Dr. Shariqua Yunus, Head of Unit & Programme Officer (Health and Nutrition), World Food Programme for gave a lecture on Fortification of Rice in India. 

She mentioned that fortification is only the way to combat anemia and micronutrient deficiencies. Dr. Reena Das elaborated that this academic public lecture is their first Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) activity on Rice Fortification which aims to make our medical fraternity aware as well as to involve and engage them in community awareness activities. 

This initiative is for tackling micronutrient deficiencies and anemia in the vulnerable populations since anemia falls under the severe public health problem. She also discussed the safety of iron fortified rice among Patients with Hemoglobinopathies. Ms. Prepsa Saini, Senior Programme Associate from WFP gave a presentation on the importance of the steps of preparation of the fortified rice kernals and the Status of Haryana Fortification of Rice – Myths & Misconceptions in India. 

Dr Pankaj Malhotra, Head of Department of Clinical Hematology and Medical Oncology from PGIMER told the participants that anemia is a major issue especially among women and children. He mentioned that it is necessary to get your hemoglobin checked regularly and take the appropriate therapy so that morbidity can be reduced. 

The program was concluded by a vote of thanks on behalf of the department and institute by Dr. Praveen Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Hematology, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

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Remembering Rani Chennamma of Kitturu

 16-August-2016 15:41 IST//Heroes of Freedom Struggle - 11

Dr Nanditha Krishna* on Brave Queen Rani Chennamma

By Suma - Flickr: Kittur Chenamma, CC BY-SA 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org

Chennai: 11th February 2024 (PIB Special Service and Features)

Courtesy Photo

It is a little known fact that most of the revolts against British began in South India. Puli Thevar and Veerapandi Kattaboman, Palayakkarars (Poligars) of the mid- and late eighteenth centuries in Madras Presidency; the Marudu Pandyan brothers who revolted between 1799 and 1801; the Vellore Sepoy mutiny of 1806; and the revolt of Pazassi Raja of Kottayam in Kerala (1792 to 1805), are but a few examples of pre-1857 revolts. All the mutineers were ruthlessly killed – hanged, decapitated, or blown from canons - but they refused to apologise and get reinstated under British rule. There was great dissatisfaction in South India where the British were arbitrarily annexing lands and destroying flourishing local economies – textile, metallurgy and agriculture, among others – to be supplanted by revenue-generating transportation of local resources to the United Kingdom for boosting the British economy.

Rani Chennamma, the queen of Kitturu was one such warrior who led a war against British forces in early part of 19th Century when not many rulers were familiar with the evil designs of the British. She was the first Indian ruler to lead an armed rebellion against the British East India Company. She was outnumbered and arrested, but she is still remembered for leading the revolt against British rule in India.

Chennamma was born in Kakati, a small village in today’s Belagavi district of Karnataka. She became queen of Kitturu (now in Karnataka) when she married Raja Mallasarja of the Desai family. They had one son who died in 1824. After the death of her son, she adopted another child, Shivalingappa, and made him heir to the throne. However, the British East India Company did not accept this under the Doctrine of Lapse, a policy of annexation devised by the British East India Company.

According to the doctrine, any princely state or territory under the paramountcy (direct influence) of the British East India Company as a “vassal” under the British subsidiary system, would automatically be annexed if the ruler was either "manifestly incompetent or died without a male heir". This Doctrine rejected the long-established right of an Indian ruler without an heir to choose a successor. The doctrine was regarded by Indians as illegitimate. It was an arbitrary policy which snatched away kingdoms when there was no direct heir. The princely state of Kitturu was taken over by the British East India Company in 1824 by imposing the 'doctrine of lapse', even before it was officially articulated by Lord Dalhousie, Governor General for the British East India Company, between 1848 and 1856. It was probably the first instance of its application. Lord Dalhousie merely made it official in 1848 by documenting it officially. Dalhousie's annexations and the doctrine of lapse caused great anger among the ruling princes in India, making it one of the causes of the Indian Mutiny of 1857.

The British ordered Rani Chennamma to exile the adopted child Shivalingappa, using the policy of paramountcy and complete authority. But Chennamma defied the order. Rani Chennamma sent a letter to Lord Elphinstone, Lieutenant-Governor of Bombay Presidency, to plead the cause of Kitturu, but her request was turned down, and war broke out. The British tried to confiscate the treasures and jewels of Kitturu, valued at around Rs. 1.5 million, but in vain. With a force of 20,000 men and 400 guns, mainly from the third troop of Madras Native Horse Artillery, they attacked Kitturu. In the first battle on October 1824, British forces lost heavily and the Collector and political agent, St. John Thackeray, was killed by the Kitturu forces. Amatur Balappa, Chennamma’s lieutenant, was responsible for his death and the losses to the British forces. Two British officers, Sir Walter Elliot and Mr. Stevenson, were also taken as hostages. Rani Chennamma released them after a promise from the British that the war would end. But the British cheated her and re-started the war. This time, the British officer Chaplin actually continued the war with more forces. Mr. Munro, nephew of Sir Thomas Munro and sub-collector of Solapur, was killed. Rani Chennamma fought fiercely with the help of her lieutenants, Sangolli Rayanna and Gurusiddappa, but was outnumbered and ultimately captured and imprisoned at Bailhongal Fort, where she died on 21 February 1829. 

Chennamma was defeated in her last battle but she will always be remembered for her valour and for leading the first armed revolt against British rule in India. Chennamma’s first victory and her legacy are still commemorated annually in Kitturu, during the Kitturu Utsava held from October 22–24. Rani Chennamma’s is buried in Bailhongal taluk. Her samadhi is situated in a small park maintained by the Government.

On 11 September 2007, a statue of Rani Chennamma of Kitturu was unveiled at the Parliament complex in New Delhi by India’s first woman President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil. The statue was donated by the Kittur Rani Chennamma Memorial Committee and sculpted by Vijay Gaur.

******

*Dr. Nanditha Krishna is a Chennai based historian, environmentalist and author of several books. She is also a professor at CP Ramaswami Aiyar Institute of Indological Research, affiliated to the University of Madras. This write up issued by PIB under Special Service and Features but explained Views Expressed in the Article are her personal.

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