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War with Iraq Likely to Displace Hundreds of Thousands; Already Grave Humanitarian Situation Will Wo

New York, NY

The Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children urges the Bush administration to pursue a diplomatic response to the crisis in Iraq and to consider the serious humanitarian consequences that war could pose. United Nations officials estimate that war in the region could result in more than 500,000 internally displaced and thousands of refugees in a country that already has more than 1 million people who have been forced from their homes. Worldwide, the vast majority of refugees and internally displaced are women and children.

“Iraq is already experiencing a humanitarian emergency characterized by high rates of child malnutrition and mortality,” says Mary Diaz, executive director of the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children. “A war will further aggravate the already precarious condition of children, and force many people to flee their homes.”

During wartime, women and children are at particular risk of human rights abuses because of their lack of status in most societies. These abuses include sexual and gender-based violence, such as sexual exploitation, recruitment as child soldiers and family separation. Women and children are also disproportionately affected by the lack of basic services endemic to refugee settings-such as adequate medical care, nutrition, sanitation, and shelter-due to discrimination and their powerlessness. Civilians generally are at risk from landmines, unexploded ordnance and use as human shields.

Given the history of ethnic divide in Iraq, the pending war is also likely to unleash retribution and massive bloodshed among local factions, which will result in further abuses of civilians, including women and children. A humanitarian crisis will be exacerbated by the lack of capacity to initiate large-scale relief efforts in the region, as few organizations with expertise in relief and assistance are currently operational in Iraq and neighboring countries.

“If the United States pursues military action, it is imperative it be ready to respond to the humanitarian and refugee crisis that will ensue,” Diaz says. “The Women’s Commission urges the Bush administration to work closely with the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relief agencies to systematically put in place structures to address an emergency and ensure that the basic rights and needs of women and children are met. Current regulations prohibit U.S. nongovernmental organizations from doing essential contingency planning in Iraq and Iran. It’s time that these restrictions be lifted.”

The Women’s Commission believes that the Bush administration should also ensure that borders remain open and guarantee that Iraqi refugees have full access to asylum systems and resettlement programs in the United States and other countries. It must also acknowledge that war in the region will necessitate a long-term and full-scale reconstruction effort led by the U.S. that should be used as an opportunity to advance the rights of women and children in the region.