The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) improves the lives and protects the rights of women,
children, youth, and other people who are often overlooked, undervalued, and underserved in
humanitarian responses to displacement and crises. We work in partnership with displaced
communities to research their needs, identify solutions, and advocate for gender-transformative
and sustained improvement in humanitarian, development, and displacement policy and
practice. Since our founding in 1989, we have been a leading expert on the needs of refugee
women, children, and youth and the policies that can protect and empower them.
www.womensrefugeecommission.org
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This report was authored by Belal Jahjooh, with substantive inputs from Julianne Deitch and Sadia
Kidwai. Data collection in Gaza was supported by Iyad Krunz. The methodology and research tools were
designed by Belal Jahjooh, Julianne Deitch, and Sadia Kidwai. Kellie Leeson, Melanie Nezer, and Sarah
Costa provided review and additional input. The report was copyedited by Rebecca Waer and designed by
Jon Garr.
For additional information, please contact Julianne Deitch, associate director, research, at
JulianneD@wrcommission.org.
WRC extends its sincere gratitude to all individuals who participated in this research, many of whom
are currently living in Gaza under extremely difficult circumstances, for entrusting us with their stories.
We also wish to acknowledge the dedication of the research team in Gaza, who worked tirelessly to
document people’s experiences and expertise. Their commitment and professionalism were essential to
this work, and we are deeply appreciative of their contributions.
This research and report were made possible in part by the generous support of an anonymous donor.
We are grateful for their commitment to advancing this work.
© 2025 Women’s Refugee Commission, Inc.
This report’s design incorporates elements of tatreez, a traditional Palestinian embroidery pattern, hand-stitched by women
as a form of cultural expression and storytelling.
Suggested citation: Women’s Refugee Commission. 2025. “I Starve Myself so My Children Can Eat”: The Gendered Impacts
of Food Insecurity and Famine in Gaza. www.womensrefugeecommission.org/research-resources/gendered-impacts-offamine-in-gaza