UN: More than 145,000 Syrian refugee families are headed by women

More than 145,000 Syrian refugee families in Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt are headed by women, a UN report released yesterday said.

The report went on to praise “their battle to maintain their dignity and care of their families in run down, overcrowded homes and insecure makeshift shelters and tents.”

Approximately three million Syrian refugees live in Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt, according to official estimates.

The report, which was issued by the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres in a press conference in Amman, Jordan, added that “a lot of Syrian heads of households face the threat of violence or exploitation, in addition that their children suffering from psychological crises.”

Entitled “Woman Alone – the Fight for Survival by Syrian Refugee Women”, the report said women were driven to go out and search for work to provide their families with essential supplies “after spending their savings until it came to the wedding ring”.

Syrian refugee called Diala lives in the city of Alexandria, north of Egypt, she is quoted in the report as saying: “Women alone in Egypt are prey for men”. While Zahwa, who lives in Jordan, pointed out that she was even “harassed” by refugees when she was collecting food coupons.

Noor, who resides in Lebanon, said she “prefers to put salt on the wound, and be silent on annoyances and harassment.”

For his part, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees called on governments and the international community to “take urgent new measures” to address the crisis.