The plight of women refugees

The special plight of the increasing numbers of women refugees throughout the world was the central theme of an event, organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews at the UK Parliament at Westminster, recently to commemorate International Women’s Day.

 The well-attended event was put together by the Board’s Women’s Group and Social Action Group. The event was chaired by Gillian Merron, Chief Executive of the Board.

Among those who addressed the meeting were: Naama Gorodischer, the Global Programmes Director of IsraAID, who is stationed on the Greek island of Lesbos; Dr Edie Friedman, the Executive Director of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality and Andrej Mahecic of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees UK.

Humanitarian agencies are overwhelmed

Commenting on the work of IsraAID, Naama Gorodischer, said the organisation has been responding to the Middle East refugee crisis for the past three years: “We began the response in refugee camps in Jordan, and IDP (internally displaced person) camps in Northern Iraq.”

“When the influx to Europe began,  we deployed our teams there as well. We have an operational team in Lesbos, ever since last September, and another mobile unit going around the Balkan route, based on need. They are currently situated in Idomeni, though we have worked in in Hungary,  Serbia, Croatia and visited Slovenia as well.”

 “In this current response, in which all humanitarian agencies are overwhelmed and are in crucial need of re-designing their operational modules, due to the uniqueness of the constant move of refugees, in which service provision is rapid and on the move.”

 “IsraAID realized that this is the one time that we have the cultural advantage, and that our very particular position committed us to direct mobile service provision.” 

  “We have been operating with Arabic-Farsi-English teams ever since day one. Our medical teams and the psycho-social teams, which include, social workers, therapists, psychologists, are from different background, ethnicity and religions.”

 “We have had Muslim, Druz, Christian and Jewish team members in our activities, all committed to the humanitarian cause of allowing people dignity and essential services to support asylum seekers in overcoming this humanitarian challenge.”  

 “We are working with refugees in five countries.: Iraq, Jordan, Greece, Macedonia and in Germany.”

“As part of our response to the crisis, we offer a variety of responses, on the beach itself, to ensure safe arrival.”

“Apart from psycho-social responses, we offer medical aid on the shores of Lesbos, providing crucial assistance to those who arrive on the shore.

Commenting on the changing composition of refugees, Ms Gorodischer said: “Every day we learn that, even when the world tries to figure out methods to respond to reduce the numbers, the refugees find ways into Europe.”

“Their experience of refuge, include great physical threats.”

More challenges for women refugees

“Women have to deal with other challenges. One of the great factors that come into this life changing journey is the enormous change in the family structure, where women in the families were never the decision makers, suddenly become heads of families."

“Another, we come across is the birth. Babies are born on the go, in boats and in refugee lines, without any citizenship. They are children of nowhere.”

 “That means they stand in a crowd of men in refugee lines to breast feed. No one dares to step of the refugee line. They are worried that when they step out of line, they would lose their places.”

 As a result, Ms Gorodischer observed, many of the women “move to formula” to feed babies, alongside not being able to wash properly.

Women and children 

Yvette Cooper MP, chair of Labour’s Refugee Taskforce, paid tribute to Jewish efforts to avert the refugee crisis.

 Ms Cooper said: “I want to pay tribute to IsraAid, one of the charities doing the most to help refugees in Greece.”  

 Ms Cooper added that 67 per cent of recent arrivals to Europe were women and children, with additional risks and dangers for their safety.

 Dr Friedman said that it was essential that we did not give up our resolve to do something about the crisis, adding, “We provide for refugees not only to help them but to restore their lost dignity.”

The event was hosted by Louise Ellman MP.

by Don de Silva, former, Regional Information Co-ordinator, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 

Photo credits, copyright: International Women’s Day event: Board of Deputies of British Jews and IsraAID:Boaz Arad / IsraAID