Iraqi refugee women and girls in Jordan: desperate and alone

The war in Iraq has created the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world. Several million people have left their homes in search of safety. Many refugees have fled to Jordan, a country with already limited resources. In June 2007, the Women's Commission conducted a field mission to Jordan to meet with Iraqi refugee women and youth to hear their stories firsthand. Refugees have limited access to basic health services, including reproductive health care, and they have little or no source of sustainable income. Iraqis report that women and girls have resorted to selling their bodies to support themselves and their families, and that domestic violence is a growing problem as a result of the stressful and desperate situation families find themselves in. One of our priorities is to advocate for the needs of Iraqi refugee women, children and youth. The U.S. government has a special responsibility to these refugees. To date, neither the U.S. nor the international community has developed a comprehensive response that is commensurate with the magnitude of the crisis. We will push Congress and the Administration to take the necessary steps to protect and assist Iraqis affected by this crisis, including providing increased funding for federal programs, UN agencies, and non-governmental organizations that assist displaced Iraqi, help the overburdened countries where they have sought refugee, as well as develop a robust and efficient resettlement program for refugees arriving in the U.S.

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Contributor: Victor K. Mugarura
Published Date: March 19, 2008