UN Warns: 38,000 Women, Girls at Risk in Gaza by 2025

Imagine walking down Republic Street in Valletta, the bustling heart of Malta, and every third person you pass is a woman or girl who won’t be here in a decade. That’s the stark reality the United Nations is warning us about in Gaza. By the end of 2025, more than 38,000 women and girls are projected to have died due to the ongoing conflict, according to a UN report.

The UN’s Grim Projection

The UN’s Population Division has released a chilling projection based on current trends. By 2025, they estimate that around 38,500 women and girls will have died in Gaza due to the conflict, with 17,000 of them being children under the age of 18. This is not a distant future; it’s a decade away, a time when many of us will still be here, still witnessing the consequences of this ongoing crisis.

Malta’s Role: A Beacon of Hope

Malta, with its long history of humanitarian response, has a unique role to play in this story. Our tiny island nation has consistently shown big-heartedness in the face of global crises. From the 2015 refugee crisis to the recent Ukraine conflict, Malta has opened its doors and hearts to those in need. Now, as we look towards the grim projection for Gaza, we must ask ourselves: what can we do to help turn this tide?

Malta’s foreign policy has often punched above its weight, advocating for peace and human rights on the global stage. Our government can continue to push for an end to the conflict, for accountability, and for the protection of civilians, especially women and children. Locally, we can support NGOs working in Gaza, donate to trusted charities, and raise awareness about the situation.

Let’s not forget that every number in that UN report is a life, a story, a woman or girl who deserves to live in peace. As we go about our lives in Malta, let’s remember the women and girls of Gaza, and let’s do what we can to ensure that the UN’s grim projection doesn’t become a reality.