On May 28, Norway recognized Palestine as a state, marking a significant milestone in global politics. On the same day, Sex og Politikk welcomed Ammal Awadallah, executive director of the Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association (PFPPA). Her visit, spanning four days, included several key meetings and lectures, providing a stark and sobering glimpse into the harsh realities faced by Palestinians.
The Reality in Gaza
Before October 7, 2023, there were 55,000 pregnant women in Gaza. When hostilities erupted, these women continued their pregnancies under increasingly dire conditions. Today, over 15% of these women can expect complications during childbirth—a figure that has tripled since the conflict began. Cesarean sections are often performed without anesthesia, and both maternal and infant mortality rates have surged. Due to a severe lack of resources, new mothers are discharged from hospitals after just one hour, left to care for their newborns in tents under extremely challenging circumstances.
Image: Midwife Narmeen Al Shafee provides care to a newborn baby in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza.
Breastfeeding has become difficult, often impossible, due to malnutrition. Women face greater risks than men, exacerbated by sexualized and gender-based violence. Securing condoms and other contraceptives is one of the few measures PFPPA has managed to implement, but obtaining sanitary products remains nearly impossible. Menstruation becomes a source of dread, with many women using rags from tents due to the unavailability of proper supplies.
PFPPA’s Resilience and Dedication
Ammal Awadallah described the extreme situation in Gaza and the broader region. The PFPPA office in Gaza was destroyed on October 8, 2023, during an Israeli bombing. With all their equipment lost, PFPPA staff continue to provide vital services, including sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), health care, and psychosocial support to the displaced population. Ammal shared the story of Wafa Abu-Hasheish, a PFPPA employee who, despite being displaced six times, continues her crucial work in Gaza.
Wafa’s dedication is symbolized by her PFPPA work vest, an essential part of her identity. Despite the overwhelming challenges, PFPPA staff like Wafa offer essential services to thousands of internally displaced people, providing contraception, dignity kits, menstrual hygiene management kits, and first aid.
Image: PFPPA staff providing care, in Gaza.
Advocacy and Awareness
On May 29, Ammal Awadallah delivered lectures at Save the Children Norway and Sex og Politikk – IPPF Norway. She emphasized that in crisis situations, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), along with women’s health care, are among the first to be compromised.
The following day, Ammal addressed the All Party Parliamentarian Group on SRHR at the Norwegian Parliament, engaging in a dialogue with members from various political parties. Her descriptions of the humanitarian crisis profoundly impacted Norad’s director, Bård Vegard Solhjell, and other participants, highlighting the immediate and long-term needs of the Palestinian population.
A Meeting of Siblings
Ammal’s final engagement in Oslo was a seminar with Sex og Politikk – IPPF Norway, held before their annual meeting. This gathering between sibling organizations, PFPPA and Sex og Politikk, was both brutal and hopeful, moving everyone present.
Ammal Awadallah’s visit underscored the urgent need for humanitarian aid and the resilience of those working under the most challenging conditions. Her powerful accounts and the dedication of PFPPA staff continue to inspire and drive efforts to support the Palestinian population.
Read more about the crisis in Gaza and about how SRHR are at the core of the humanitarian catastrophe.
Words by Sex og Politikk
Banner image: Ammal Awadallah, executive director of PFPPA, visit to Norway.
