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UN PhotoGAZA / UNMAS WOMEN’S DAY
STORY: GAZA / UNMAS WOMEN’S DAY
TRT: 07:04
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 08 MARCH 2026, DEIR AL-BALAH, CENTRAL GAZA STRIP
1. Various shots, UNMAS headquarters in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip
2. Various shots, Alya Abu Shawish, who works as a Security Associate with the UNMAS team in the Gaza Strip
3. Various shots, UNMAS office in the Gaza Strip
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Alya Abu Shawish, Security Associate, UN Mine in Action (UNMAS) in Gaza:
“I am Alya Abu Shawish from UNMAS, Occupied Palestinian Territory Programme. I work as a Security Associate. Since 2024, the programme has been operating in an extremely challenging conflict environment."
5. Various shots, Alya Abu Shawish explaining, on an interactive map, the movement areas of field teams across the Gaza Strip.
6. Various shots, Alya Abu Shawish preparing to depart for a field mission
7. Various shots, Alya Abu Shawish driving a UNMAS vehicle during a field mission
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Alya Abu Shawish, Security Associate, UN Mine in Action (UNMAS) in Gaza:
"My work as a woman in this field demonstrates that women can play a vital role in ensuring safety and making a tangible difference, even in the most dangerous and demanding environments in the Gaza Strip."
9. Various shots, Alya Abu Shawish driving a UNMAS vehicle during a field mission
10. Various shots, Alya Abu Shawish returning to the UNMAS office in central Gaza after completing field missions
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Alya Abu Shawish, Security Associate, UN Mine in Action (UNMAS) in Gaza:
"Also, I lead the convoys in many missions as a convoy commander. Me and my team succeed to reduce the risk and ensure safe implementation of the activities on the ground."
12. Various shots, women working within the UNMAS team during awareness sessions about the dangers of explosive remnants of war left behind by the conflict
13. Various shots, Alya Abu Shawish working inside the UNMAS office in the Gaza Strip
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Alya Abu Shawish, Security Associate, UN Mine in Action (UNMAS) in Gaza:
“As a woman and a mother, I have lived through many of the hardships that Palestinian women in Gaza face during times of war—fear, displacement, shortages, and constant uncertainty. Like many women here, I have had to protect my family while navigating these difficult realities. But these experiences did not weaken me; they strengthened my determination to help others. They inspired me to work in mine action and security with UNMAS—a field often seen as a men's job. In this role, I contribute to reducing the risks posed by explosive hazards and to helping communities live more safely. Through my work, I also hope to challenge stereotypes and show that Palestinian women are strong, capable, and resilient. We are mothers, caregivers, and professionals who continue to support our families and communities despite these hardships. Today, I stand here not only for myself, but for many Palestinian women who prove every day that they can overcome challenges and make a meaningful difference in building safer and stronger communities."
15. Various shots, women working with the UNMAS team during awareness activities about the dangers of explosive remnants of war
16. Various shots, UNMAS teams working to remove suspected hazardous objects and explosive remnants of war
In an office of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in central Gaza, Alya Abu Shawish stands before a digital map, tracking the movements of field teams deployed across the Strip. For her, the work goes beyond managing daily operational tasks—it is about ensuring the safety of her colleagues in one of the world’s most hazardous work environments.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Abu Shawish’s story highlights the reality of women in Gaza, where the aftermath of a two-year war imposes unprecedented challenges on daily life.
Abu Shawish serves as a Security Associate with UNMAS’s program for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, responsible for monitoring the movements of field crews as they carry out tasks to clear explosive remnants of war across the region.
“Since 2024, the program has operated in an extremely complex conflict environment,” Abu Shawish explained. “We continuously track our teams’ movements to ensure their safety while on the job.”
Her responsibilities include coordinating with United Nations security departments, monitoring staff locations during field operations, preparing live maps highlighting movement corridors and restricted areas, and leading field convoys on numerous missions.
During one field mission in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, Abu Shawish and a specialized team arrived at a site suspected of containing explosive remnants of war. There, the team assessed the risks and removed threats that could endanger civilians.
The field mission was a collaboration between UNMAS and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
“My work as a woman in this field proves that women can play a vital role in ensuring safety and making a tangible difference, even in the most dangerous environments,” she said.
Yet behind this professional mission lies a personal story that reflects the reality of thousands of women in Gaza.
“As a woman and a mother, I have lived through conditions of fear, displacement, resource scarcity, and constant uncertainty during the war—just like many women here,” Abu Shawish said, “I had to protect my family while coping with these harsh circumstances.”
Despite these challenges, she said her experience has strengthened her determination to help others and motivated her to work in a field often viewed as male dominated.
“These experiences have not weakened me; they have reinforced my resolve to work in mine action and security, contributing to reducing the risks that threaten people’s lives,” she adds.
Other women in UNMAS teams also participate in community awareness activities about the dangers of explosive remnants, which have become one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges in Gaza as the destruction spreads.
For Abu Shawish, these efforts carry a message that extends beyond the fieldwork.
“Through my work, I hope to show that Palestinian women are strong and resilient. We are mothers, professionals, and caregivers who continue to support our families and communities despite all hardships,” she says.
At a time when Gaza’s population faces one of the toughest periods in its history, Abu Shawish emphasized that women continue to demonstrate daily their capacity to overcome challenges and contribute to building safer communities.
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