Goals of the Survey To assess how men and women from differing socio-economic contexts in Gaza have been affected by and have responded to the crisis. To understand how they perceive their urgent humanitarian needs, and the most appropriate short and medium term interventions and responses to them. By addressing the way that differences in priorities and perceptions are shaped by different gender roles and responsibilities. To ensure that humanitarian interventions address the inter-connected but varying needs of all Gazans – men, women, boys and girls.

Issues and Areas Covered Access to information and assistance before and after the war, as well as participation in emergency assistance. General needs, survival mechanisms and differential access to food, NFIs, water and sanitation facilities. Impacts on livelihoods including impacts on household income sources and changes in livelihood strategies. Health and psychosocial needs and access to services. Security and protection concerns for men, women, girls and boys and access to protection and legal support. The needs of vulnerable populations including the injured and disabled, IDPs and female headed households.

Methodology Household Survey Males and females over 18 years of age Undertaken in the 1st week of March 2009 Questionnaire revised after piloting on 40 households Sample: 1,100 respondents (48% female/ 52% male) 22 areas across 5 governorates

Main Findings

Livelihoods and Income Sources There is a significant gap of 10% in men and women’s perceptions of the male household head as the primary earner. There is a consensus among both sexes that wives carry a greater share of providing secondary income than primary income. There is a gap between men and women regarding perceptions of who controls family income – 8% more male than females claiming they control it. Two-thirds of men and women said they heard about women in their communities searching for work after the war.

Food Security Men and women report their expenditure has increased between approximately 40 to 45% on three basic needs – food, water and psychosocial health. Approximately 20% of households said that boys’ needs are prioritized when there is a food shortage in the home. Men report more time spent in search of domestic fuel; women report less time spent cooking.

Food Aid Figure 1: Reasons For Dissatisfaction of Food Assistance Received (Male Respondents) Figure 2: Reasons For Dissatisfaction of Food Assistance Received (Female Respondents)

Health and Psychosocial Needs The highest reported health problem among all respondents is psychological trauma and stress stated by approximately a third of all respondents. Men (at 33%) and the displaced (at 36%) report the highest levels of psychosocial trauma among men and boys, while women (also at 33%) report the highest incidence among girls and women. Lack of information was cited as the main obstacle to accessing psychosocial services among all respondents – but was higher among women than men. Distance was cited as the main obstacle to women and girls getting access to general health services (stated by 40% of all women and 46% of female headed households).

Safety, Security, Domestic and Public Violence Domestic violence was cited as the primary safety problem facing women and girls; public and political violence was cited as the main safety and security problem facing men and boys. The highest reported rise in domestic violence against women is among households displaced by the war, and in the southern Gaza Strip which also had highest reporting of increased domestic violence against children. Among all categories of respondents, various family members were cited by more than 60% as the address for both women and men who suffer from any form of violence to go to for help. Men are ten times more likely to use the police than women.

Participation of Women and Men in the Relief Process 70% of male and female respondents state they have not been informed about the relief and recovery assistance in their community since the war. The group most likely to have received information are the displaced – dramatically higher than any other social category at 46%. Figure 3: Knowledge and access to recovery assistance 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% Men Women Female headed household Displaced North Gaza Gaza Deir al Balah Khan Younis Rafah Yes I have been informed of relief & recovery assistance in a language and manner that I understand

Figure 4: Participation in the planning of relief assistance 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% Men Women Female headed household Displaced North Gaza Gaza Deir al Balah Khan Younis Rafah Yes, I have participated in the planning of relief assistance in my community

85% of men and 88% of women report that they have not been involved in any consultation on the planning or design of the humanitarian assistance in their community. The predominant reason given by both sexes for lack of participation in planning of relief or assistance in their communities is that only community leaders take the decisions (at 57% among men and 53% among women). 30% of female respondents stated the reason was that only male family members are consulted. Given that community leaders, including religious leaders are predominantly male, it is likely that the few women who said they did participate in planning relief and assistance – were consulted on women only programs.

Additional Findings on the Displaced Throughout the survey, the displaced exhibited a heightened vulnerability towards the safety and security needs of their women family members. Displaced women were more likely than other women to say they felt unsafe using a bathing or latrine facility and also cited a greater lack of reliable sanitary materials. Half the displaced respondents said their children had not returned to school after the war due to “lack of security”.

Recommendations and Conclusions

Issues of Immediate Concern and Intervention Food Security: Ascertaining and rectifying reasons for the lack of appropriateness of certain types of food assistance cited by 15% of all respondents. Possibility of a food security problem for those already receiving assistance, including a need to provide more access to more supplementary feeding for children under 5 years of age. Assessing if obstacles in access to domestic fuel (including high cost) may be negatively affecting household food security. All food security interventions should be undertaken in consultation with women in affected households given that food preparation and distribution within households, is their area of responsibility.

Health and Psychosocial: Ascertaining whether there is a rising problem of self-medication with unsupervised pharmaceutical therapies for trauma and stress in the absence of access to professional psycho-social services. If such a problem is identified -- public awareness campaigns are the most immediate intervention that need to be undertaken in the absence of an expansion in professional psycho-social services. The Displaced (Education, Protection, EWASH): Problems of access to continued schooling among children of families displaced in the war (remedies need to take into account differing social obstacles facing boys and girls). Physical vulnerability of women and girls in displaced households includes lack of secure sanitation facilities and products for displaced women. The conditions of displaced households that might lead to higher instances of domestic violence against women and children.

Participation: Greater involvement of all groups in the design and planning of relief programs. Women’s participation should not be limited to consulting on “women only” programs – especially given their greater practical role in family food provision and greater knowledge of health needs and other issues of household members.