Shara Yaghi: Model of Inspiring Women Leadership of Humanitarian Response in Gaza Strip

Gaza Strip –Occupied Palestinian Territory - Sahar is one the  women leading  humanitarian response in Gaza strip. Sahar  works for the Palestinian Development Women Studies Association (PDWSA), which was founded in 2006 to support Palestinian women, and is a partner of ActionAid Palestine. Since its foundation, the association has provided legal and mental health support for women, worked to increase women’s involvement in decision-making positions and supported women affected by unemployment amid an economic crisis to generate income.
The Palestinian women in Gaza live under catastrophic conditions in Gaza since 7th of October 2023. There has been an escalation of violence across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. The Israeli military declared war  in the Gaza Strip.  Since then, intense Israeli bombardment continue to disproportionally inflict civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction in Gaza. Increased airstrikes in Rafah have heightened concerns of an escalation where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge, with increased settler violence in the West Bank. The scale and severity of the humanitarian catastrophe currently unfolding is horrifying, with devastating impacts of the conflict on men and women, boys and girls. More than 1.9 million people have been displaced, including what the UN estimates to be nearly 1 million women and girls. The entire population of Gaza — roughly 2.3 million people — are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse. Destruction of basic infrastructure has made life unbearable, as disrupted critical services has meant people struggle to find proper shelter, food, and water and endure long periods of electricity blackout, limited fuel and food supply.

In the days leading up to International Women’s Day 2024, Sahar speaks about the catastrophic conditions that women in Palestine are currently: “Women have been displaced from their homes during the war, are struggling to meet their basic needs and are left without safety or security. She speaks about the PDWSA’s efforts to support women and children affected by the ongoing war in Gaza through emotional support, youth-led activities and distribution of food and essential items. PDWSA prioritize women’s involvement in the decision-making process of their humanitarian response and believe that its key for women to be leading their work supporting women.

‘On International Women’s Day in 2024, the women of Palestine are enduring some of the direst conditions ever witnessed. Here in Gaza, we live in a state of conflict that affects every facet of our existence. Many are displaced from their homes, living in tents without the basic necessities for survival. They lack access to food, hospitals, security, or safety.”

‘We, at The Palestinian Development Women Studies Association (PDWSA), strive to provide the appropriate response to women’s wants and needs. However, the ongoing war has made us, the association's employees, victims too. With constant displacement and limited telecommunications, our humanitarian response is significantly hindered. 

‘We offer psychological support to women in shelters and also support children through initiatives that are led by youth groups in shelters. Additionally, we try to provide women with their [needed] essentials, including benefit baskets, food and shelter – whenever possible.’

ActionAid Palestine always emphasizes women leadership for humanitarian response in case of emergencies and crisis. Sahar says: “In 2023, we were crafting out humanitarian response plans for 2024, but the outbreak of the war caught us off guard and forced us to reassess our strategies. Throughout our planning, we emphasized the importance of including women in our efforts”.

Women’s involvement is crucial, especially in areas where humanitarian assistance was most needed.’ Sahar is one of women leaders who is engaged in decision making process in designing and planning for any humanitarian response. Sahar Says: ‘We prioritize women’s inclusion in the decision-making process. Particularly during crisis where their assistance is needed the most.’

 Women are suffering; They need support from a woman who understands their troubles. A woman can give suitable support by having empathy and understanding their needs to give them the psychological, financial, and humanitarian support in whatever they need.’

Background Information

ActionAid in Palestine (AAP) is a part of global federation working for social justice and gender equality and eradicate poverty in more than 45 countries around the world. AAP started its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian People as ActionAid believes that they should enjoy their rights to freedom, justice and self-determination. AAP implements a number of programs through its engagement with communities and women and youth groups seeking to empower them and enhance their influential civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective activism to address the protracted rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation of Palestine. AAP works simultaneously to enhance their leadership capacity and knowledge to practice their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers to account.

For more information, please contact

Riham Jafari

Coordinator of Advocacy and Communication in Palestine

Mobile:

+972 (0) 595242890

Office:

+972 (0) (2) 22 13 137

Email: Riham.Jafari@actionaid.org