OCHA says war heightens risks for women in southern Lebanon

OCHA says war heightens risks for women in southern Lebanon Women and girls in southern Lebanon, which has suffered devastation due to Israeli military operations, face heightened risks of gender-based violence and disrupted access to essential health services, the UN's humanitarian agency has reported. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement that female-headed households, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women, older people, and people with disabilities remain particularly vulnerable. United Nations Population Fund estimates that there are 390,000 women of reproductive age among displaced and returnee populations. This includes approximately 16,000 pregnant women, with about 1,800 women expected to give birth each month. OCHA said military activity in parts of South and Nabatieh governorates continues to pose risks to civilians, undermining confidence among displaced families considering return. Three hospitals and 36 primary healthcare centres remain closed, while at least 17 hospitals have sustained damage. Access to maternal and newborn health services is limited in parts of southern Lebanon, particularly in conflict-affected areas.