Women, Girls Bear Rising Civilian Toll In Modern Conflicts

Modern warfare has shifted its toll from soldiers to civilians, with women and girls emerging as the most affected.

While narratives often highlight battlefield heroics, the reality reveals a growing burden on vulnerable populations, particularly females who face violence, displacement and systemic neglect.

According to the United Nations, 2024 saw one of the highest levels of global conflict since 1946. Around 676 million women and girls lived near conflict zones, the highest figure in decades.

Civilian casualties have surged, with women and children forming a significant share, alongside a sharp rise in conflict-related sexual violence.

The UNHCR reports that 123.2 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide in 2024.

Women and girls make up over half of this population, with more than 60 million facing high risks of exploitation and abuse.

Conflict disproportionately impacts women, who form the majority of survivors of sexual violence and often face stigma and limited access to justice.

In Gaza, ongoing violence has killed thousands of women and girls, underscoring the severe human cost.

Displacement disrupts education and livelihoods, pushing many girls out of school and increasing risks of early marriage and poverty.

At the same time, collapsing healthcare systems leave pregnant and breastfeeding women without essential care, worsening malnutrition and health risks.

As conflicts intensify, experts call for urgent gender-sensitive interventions, stronger protections, and inclusion of women in peace processes, warning that without action, women and girls will continue to bear the heaviest burden of war.

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