UN report finds sharp rise in forced child marriages and sexual abuse in Gaza camps
UNFPA data show gender-based violence in Gaza surged 27% between April and June, with forced marriages and rape becoming more common in displacement camps.
A series of UNFPA reports reveal that gender-based violence in Gaza jumped 27% between April and June, with sexual assault cases climbing from 2.1% to 2.7% of all reported incidents. Interviews with 230 women living in displacement camps in Gaza City and Khan Younis describe fathers selling teenage daughters for basic food, rapists being forced into marriage, and aid distribution contingent on sexual compliance. The reports highlight systematic cover-ups, pressure on survivors to marry perpetrators, and widespread exploitation of disabled women.
Family members, including fathers, brothers and in-laws, are frequently cited as abusers, while camp officials allegedly demand sexual favors for tents or medical services. The humanitarian crisis and overcrowded living conditions are identified as key drivers of the escalating abuse.
Why it matters
The findings expose a worsening humanitarian crisis where women and girls face extreme exploitation and violence in Gaza.
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