A safe space for Gaza women: A sanctuary to speak, heal and share amid war

In displacement camps across Gaza, women face compounded hardship as they manage household survival while processing profound loss. Collective Development Projects has established a women-only safe space in al-Amal camp, where daily sessions offer psychological support and peer discussion in an environment designed for emotional expression. The initiative recognises that many women lack opportunity to process grief while occupied with securing food, water, and basic necessities in tent settlements without electricity or ventilation.

Ola Saleh, a 39-year-old mother of five, represents the scale of loss affecting Gaza's female population. Her husband was killed in August 2023 while obtaining supplies for the family, leaving her as sole provider and caregiver. According to UN Women, approximately 16,000 women across Gaza have lost husbands since October 2023, with roughly one in seven families now headed by women.

The programme, coordinated by field staff including Alaa Daoud, extends beyond emotional support to address pressing wartime challenges: family pressure, economic hardship, mental health concerns, and childcare difficulties during displacement. Sessions raise awareness on these interconnected issues while creating space for women to share experiences with others who understand their circumstances without explanation required.

Since launching at al-Farah School in central Gaza, the initiative has demonstrated rapid uptake, with attendance growing from 60 women on the first day to 70–75 by subsequent sessions. Plans are underway to expand the programme to additional displacement sites across the Strip, with similar sessions already operating in northern Gaza.