The IDF Widows and Orphans (IDFWO) organization announced on International Widows Day, Sunday, that 260 Gaza war widows have joined the organization since October 7.
More than 520 orphaned children are being supported by IDFWO and 31 of the widows are pregnant.
IDFWO is an Israeli non-profit which offers support to the spouses and children of fallen soldiers. This support encompasses emotional care, financial assistance, educational opportunities and a community of women experiencing similar struggles.
What is IDFWO?
“On this International Widows Day, the IDF organization comes together with the global community to bring to the forefront the voices and unique needs and experiences of the widows who have faced unimaginable loss,” IDFWO said. “We are inspired by the strength and resilience of the widows in our community, and are committed to providing the holistic support they need to ensure they live successful lives full of dignity and meaning.”
International Widows Day, according to the United Nations, is a day dedicated to endorsing the rights and dignity of the 258 million widows around the world. These women, the UN said, have traditionally been left “unseen, unsupported, and unmeasured.”
What is International Widows Day?
The day was dedicated to widows in 2011, and is used as “an opportunity for action towards achieving full rights and recognition for widows.
This includes provision of information on access to a fair share of their inheritance, pensions and social protection beyond what is owed on the basis of marital status alone. It promises decent work and equal pay, education and training opportunities. Empowering widows to support themselves and their families also means addressing social stigmas that create exclusion, and discriminatory or harmful practices.”