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. Read more.

Read Five Years Later, A Hidden Crisis, a new report issued by the International Rescue Committee's Commission on Iraqi Refugees.

Take Action!

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.

Help Iraqi Families: Sign the International Rescue Committee's petition to Congress now.

Ask Congress to support legislation and more funding to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of Iraqi refugees in fiscal year 2008 and 2009.

Help raise awareness and resources for Iraqi refugee women, children and youth.

REPORTS

• Read our brief to find out more about the situation and our recommendations to the U.S. government and the international humanitarian community
• Read our report, Iraqi Refugee Women and Youth in Jordan: Reproductive Health Findings. Click here for an Arabic version.

FROM THE FIELD

Read our diary entries to see how every day in Jordan is a fight for survival.

• "Terrible things happened to me": Violence against Iraqi women and girls (June 19, 2007)
• "Can you help us?" Iraqi Refugees in Jordan (June 15, 2007)

VOICES OF IRAQI WOMEN

• Download our booklet: Voices of Iraqi Refugee Women and Girls in Jordan

MEDIA

• Iraqi Refugee Women and Youth: Sick and Suffering; U.S. and International Community Must Support Health Sector Appeal (September 24, 2007)
• "What We Owe Iraq's Refugees." The Washington Post. Megan McKenna and Sarah Chynoweth write a letter to the editor in support of an editorial about the U.S. responsibility to Iraqi refugees, especially in Jordan. (August 24, 2007)
• WBAI 99.5 FM. Wakeup Call. Megan McKenna and Sarah Chynoweth talk about the plight of Iraqi refugee women and children in Jordan. (August 9, 2007)
• Iraqi Refugees in Jordan: Humanitarian Needs Dire; U.S. and International Community Must Act Now (July 11, 2007)
• "The Hellish Situation of Iraqi Refugees." Huffingtonpost.com blog. Blog post by Megan McKenna in response to John Bolton's comment on denying responsibility for Iraqi refugees. (June 14, 2007)
• "Desperation in Amman." Huffingtonpost.com Blog. Blog post by Megan McKenna. (June 18, 2007)
• Assistance for Displaced Iraqi Women, Children and Youth Must Become a Global Priority (January 29, 2007)

Video

The Women's Commission produced a video on gender violence against Iraqi refugee women and girls. 6 minutes.

Violence Against Women and Girls in the Iraq Crisis

 

View more short videos by the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children on this issue:

Desperate and Alone: Iraqi Refugee Women and Youth in Jordan

The Health Care Crisis for Iraqi Refugees in Jordan