“The situation is catastrophic.” Leading frontline care in Gaza

Dia Zaki ElMassre discusses the challenges, and his hopes, for his new role as Gaza Team Lead at Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association (PFPPA).

What was your motivation for wanting to work with PFPPA?

I have been leading complex humanitarian responses in Gaza for over 15 years, and have seen how compounding crises deeply devastate the daily lives of vulnerable populations, especially women and girls. Joining PFPPA means I can use my background in field coordination and crisis management to support a critical, life-saving sector: sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and protection.  

What are some of the biggest challenges you and the team at PFPPA are facing at the moment in your work?

Our challenges are deeply layered - the destruction of our headquarters, continuous displacement, and the expanding high-risk "Yellow Line" [marking the boundary of Israeli controlled territory in Gaza]. Economic collapse has caused widespread malnutrition among pregnant and lactating women and their infants, making it extremely difficult to ensure safe pre- and post-pregnancy outcomes. Despite several service providers being on the ground, the sheer volume of SRH and gender-based violence (GBV) cases creates a massive deficit in resources, making it an immense operational burden for our teams to deliver sensitive SRH and protection services safely under these volatile conditions. 

What is the current sexual and reproductive health situation for women and girls in Gaza?

The situation is catastrophic. Healthcare collapse has left thousands of women without access to pre- and post-pregnancy care or safe delivery services, especially in overcrowded displacement zones like Al-Mawasi. Economic failure has caused a severe nutritional crisis; a high percentage of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, along with their babies, suffer from acute malnutrition. Crucially, extreme displacement and lack of privacy in shelters have driven GBV and family breakdowns to an alarming high. Vulnerable groups, including adolescent girls, women with disabilities, and the elderly, face a total lack of private spaces and specialized counseling. Additionally, constant disruptions have cut off young people from vital awareness, leaving a critical gap in reproductive health education and safe developmental guidance during a time of extreme trauma.

What are some of the things you hope to achieve alongside the team at PFPPA over the coming months?

Over the coming months, we want to re-establish functional field bases and expand our mobile and fixed services to target high-density zones like Al-Mawasi, ensuring access to SRH clinical interventions and comprehensive pre- and post-pregnancy checkups. Recognizing that independent field efforts are no longer enough to address this immense crisis, a core priority is formalizing strategic partnerships and signing MOUs with other service providers to deliver complementary services and establish unified referral pathways. Furthermore, we will activate tailored awareness workshops for youth using the Comprehensive Life Skills and Sexuality Manual and intensify psychosocial support to mitigate rising GBV.