HÊDIL EL-OMER

Idlib- Women are most affected by the deteriorating living and economic conditions in Idlib, which is under attack. The internally displaced women living in the city have to fight poverty, low wages and inequalities.

Maryam Al-Taher, 34, is one of the women living in the IDPs camps in the Atme town of Idlib. She has been working with a gynecologist for three months. She looked for a job by using social media and finally found this job to earn a living. “I lost my father at the beginning of 2022. I had to earn a living for myself and my family,” she told us.

She cleans houses

Amira Al-Othman, 29, is another displaced woman, who has to earn a living. “After facing psychological and social pressure, I decided to earn a living for myself and my children in order not to ask for help from anyone,” said Amira Al-Osman, who lost her spouse in an airstrike targeting the city of Maarat al-Numan at the end of 2019. She tries to earn a living for her children by cleaning houses.

She suffer from back pain due to long working hours

Sabah Al-Ghazala, 33, lives in one of the IDPs camps in Saldiq. She is an agricultural worker but paid low wages despite long working hours. “I have to wake up early to work. We have to work more than eight hours every day. I have been suffering from back pain due to long working hours.

She looks after her 5 children and sick spouse

Alia Al-Qarn, 40, is also a displaced woman living in one of the camps in Idlib. She earns a living by washing the stairs of the buildings. In addition, she has to look after her five children and sick spouse.

‘Women must be supported’

Psychologist Zahra Makansawy thinks women are most affected by wars, clashes, conflicts and forced displacement. She said, “Displaced women are responsible for laundry, cleaning, cooking and child care. They also have to earn a living for their families. I call on all NGOs to support displaced women earning a living for their families.”