In war, women and girls suffer most - but when supported, they are often the ones who hold families and communities together.
Yasmin, a young mother from Gaza, went into labour in the middle of a siege. The hospital was overwhelmed, with just one exhausted doctor rushing between women in crisis. Her C-section was performed under unimaginable pressure, and she was then forced to flee for her life with her newborn in her arms.
“We had to walk, a lot, carrying our things. I was so anxious and worried about my baby. I was fearful of the white phosphorus and toxins exploding in the air. This is my first baby. I had anticipated welcoming her in peace and safety. I cried the whole way through.”
Her baby became sick in the cold, and Yasmin had no access to medicine, clothes, or even milk. For too many women, this is what it means to bring life into the world during war.
Right now, 612 million women and girls are living in conflict zones — a 50% increase compared to just 10 years ago.
They endure 95% of all sexual violence in conflict.
50% of women who die during pregnancy or childbirth worldwide are in a conflict areas.
Girls are 2.5 times more likely than boys to be out of school.
Without hygiene supplies and clean spaces, women and girls face serious health risks and suffer a daily loss of dignity.
In Uganda last year, War Child met three sisters from the DRC, orphaned, alone, and left to survive on a hillside with nothing but a tarp and sticks for shelter. Within days, the tarp was stolen, the eldest was sexually assaulted, and the younger two had no access to school or even clean water. By the time War Child met them, they had endured this for a year.
War Child acted immediately. The girls received medical care, and the process began to rehome them in a safe community, with access to school and ongoing support.
And then there’s War Child’s Tech Hub programme in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, which supports vulnerable girls and women, including those affected by poverty, gender-based violence and those formerly linked to armed groups.
Helene refused to give up on her education. Through our partnership with local organisation ASPLC, she joined the programme, learning computer skills alongside vocational training in sewing and tailoring. For the first time, she wasn’t just surviving, she was building a future.
I feel empowered! I have the skills, the knowledge - and now, the belief in myself.Helene, DRC
War Child is working every day to ensure girls and women like Yasmin, Helene, and the three sisters are not forgotten.
This is why War Child’s long-term programmes are so vital. They ensure girls can continue their education, that women can earn an income, that families can heal from trauma, and that communities can imagine a future beyond violence.
In times of crisis, we work alongside our local partners to provide life-saving support. This can mean ensuring a baby has formula, a girl has menstrual and hygiene kits, or a family has a safe space. It also means offering psychological first aid, counselling and case management so that women and girls can access the specialist care they urgently need.
To me being a girl means being respected and loved. I would like the girls to protect themselves, protect their future, stay in school and focus.Umomubana, Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Uganda.
On this International Day of the Girl Child, we are reminded why this work matters and that gender equity is not a side note, it is essential. In conflict, women and girls suffer most, but when supported, they are the often ones who hold families and communities together. By championing children, especially girls living through war, we are helping to build a brighter future.
