UNFPA warns that war-orphaned girls are highly vulnerable to sexual violence and coerced into early marriages as a way to reduce the burdens and costs faced by caregivers.

The Gaza crisis unfolds amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, with overcrowded shelters and scarce access to food, water, and basic essentials.

Widows and single mothers are disproportionately affected, with about a quarter of Gaza households now headed by a woman, roughly double the pre-war figure.

UN data shows a sharp rise in gender-based violence in early 2026, including a 123% surge in early and forced marriages and women aged 18–59 accounting for the majority of GBV incidents.

A UN-administered recovery plan and accompanying international security framework are cited as part of a broader geopolitical response to Gaza’s crisis.

Women and girls in refugee camps report being coerced into marriages with rapists in exchange for essential needs like food or to avoid social stigma.

There are accounts of weddings taking place the day after rape is disclosed, including cases where very young girls are married off to secure meals or shelter for their families.