WUNRN
International Committe
of the Red Cross - ICRC
IRAQ -
INTERNALLY DISPLACED - GENDER
Qalawa
IDP camp, Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah governorate,
© ICRC /
M. Greub / v-p-iq-e-00880
__________________________________________________________
http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2011/iraq-news-2011-08-24.htm
IRAQ - WOMEN HEADED HOUSEHOLDS SUFFER HARSH CHALLENGES - ICRC
August 24, 2011 - Geneva/Baghdad (ICRC) – Women in Iraq who must shoulder the burden of caring for their families alone because their husbands have been killed, arrested or disabled by war injuries, or have gone missing, are among those worst affected by the consequences of years of armed conflict. While recognizing the efforts that have already been undertaken to improve their situation, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) calls for further action to be taken on the part of all concerned.
"Women heading households and their dependents have
to struggle with extremely harsh living conditions," said Magne Barth, the
head of the ICRC delegation in Baghdad, at a press conference today in the
Iraqi capital. He presented the results of a survey carried out by the ICRC to
acquire a better understanding of the state of Iraqi women supporting their
families alone. The survey involved interviews with 119 women and depicted the
hard choices they have to make in order to feed their families in the absence
of a husband, father or brother. The ICRC also released a film today that
highlights the difficulties the women have to face.
"Around 70 per cent of them spend more than they
earn. They have to borrow money, sell what little they own and avoid expenses
by going without health care or by taking their children out of school,"
said Mr Barth. "Moreover, 40 per cent of the families we surveyed have to
send children, usually sons as young as 12 or 13 years old, out to work."
An estimated one million women struggle to feed their
families and continue to depend, to some extent, on outside help. The ICRC
strives to help them overcome the loss of a former breadwinner. In particular,
it aids them in their efforts to register with Iraq's welfare allowance system.
"Since 2009, the ICRC has reimbursed the travel expenses incurred by
nearly a thousand women, mainly in Baghdad and Anbar, but also in Basra and
Missan, when they had to gather the various documents required to apply for the
allowance," said Mr Barth. "Around 6,000 more women will be given
financial support this year and next to tide them over until they start to
receive benefits from the social welfare system."
"We also offer micro grants to those willing to
start an income-generating activity," he said. "However, the grants
cannot meet all needs, and not all women are able to launch a small
business."
The ICRC supports all efforts aiming to improve the
situation of women heading households. It will continue to assist the women and
others involved in helping them.