RAFIF ESLEEM
Gaza -Nutritionist Suwar Hallas stressed that Israeli attacks have not only robbed women of their lives, homes, and privacy, but also deprived them of food security, healthy growth, and proper nutrition—raising the risk of cancers linked to long-term nutritional deprivation.

She explained that famine has deeply disrupted women’s biological functions, particularly menstruation. Some have experienced permanent cessation of their periods, while others suffer from irregular cycles accompanied by severe pain. These effects, she warned, are not the full extent of the crisis, as many women face heightened risks of developing cancer due to prolonged nutrient deficiencies.

Menstrual disorders

Hallas noted that “amid global crises, especially in war-torn regions, famine remains the most devastating challenge, with women and children as its most vulnerable victims.”

She added that the war has stripped women not only of their homes and safety, but also of their health, leading to abnormal weight and muscle loss and weakening their immune systems. This has triggered severe physical and hormonal disruptions, including fat loss critical to healthy body functions.

According to Hallas, the consequences have included widespread anemia, osteoporosis, and menstrual irregularities such as permanent cessation, delayed cycles, or changes in the color and flow of menstrual blood, varying from one woman to another.

Nutrition to safeguard women’s health

Nutritionist Suwar Hallas linked the disruption of women’s bodies—particularly menstrual cycles—to estrogen deficiency, stressing that the hormone depends on essential nutrients such as proteins, fats, iron, and healthy oils.

She explained that Gaza’s reliance on canned foods and sugars has weakened immune function, leaving the body unable to detect cancer cells. Women, she warned, are particularly vulnerable—especially pregnant women and their unborn children, as many babies are now being born with rare conditions not previously seen.

Amid famine and blockade, Hallas underlined that women and girls urgently need calcium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, iron, and vitamin C. “These nutrients are found in vegetables and dairy products, but if unavailable, supplements are essential, especially for pregnant and breastfeeding women, whose bodies need them most,” she said.

Hallas emphasized the importance of awareness and medical guidance for women and girls, noting that many who have lost their menstrual cycles fail to consult doctors. “Some cases require urgent medical intervention to prevent worsening health risks,” she warned.

“In Gaza today, suffering is not only measured by the number of victims, but also by what women are silently deprived of—nutrition, health, security, and dignity. The famine is not merely a food crisis, but a humanitarian catastrophe draining women’s bodies and endangering their lives, particularly those of pregnant and nursing mothers.”