Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Shedding light on the challenges refugee women face, such as climate change, political conflict, and healthcare access, and exploring solutions, the "Mental Health of Refugee Women Conference" concluded in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), and Honourary President of the Emirates Red Crescent Authority, the conference was hosted by Abu Dhabi University and organised by the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women in collaboration with Emirates Red Crescent (ERC).
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the event, experts highlighted the UAE's global efforts in empowering refugee women and the conference's role in outlining strategies to address the pressing issue.
Dr. Maitha Al Shamsi, Minister of State and Chairperson of the Supreme Committee of the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women told Aletihad that the conference, being launched by the Fund for the first time, raised many issues that women face in countries that witness displacement and asylum.
"Women are often the primary breadwinners for their families, and leaving their homeland under difficult circumstances impacts their stability. In addition, the lack of resources available to provide them with a decent life is a significant concern," Dr. Al Shamsi said.
The event spotlighted the psychological impact of these challenges on refugee women, highlighting the pioneering initiatives under the guidance of the President of the Refugee Women Fund, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, she added. Furthermore, Dr. Al Shamsi highlighted Her Highness Sheikha Fatima's encouragement for women to engage in development projects, citing initiatives in Uganda where Sudanese refugee women participate in agriculture and the food industry, which makes them feel more productive.
"When women's economic capabilities are enhanced, they can better confront psychological, social, and economic challenges. We have projects in Syria focused on the food and honey industries, and in Mauritania, midwives are being trained within refugee camps to leverage existing skills. This training helps reduce death rates in refugee centres," she said.
Dr. Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor and Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries at UNHCR, outlined to Aletihad the mental health challenges faced by refugee women, who often relocate to countries with limited facilities and suffer abuse during their journeys.
He mentioned his participation in the initial panel addressing the mental health of refugee women and explained their collaboration with the Sheikha Fatima Fund and the ERC to create various projects in countries such as Burkina Faso, Chad, and Kenya.
Dr. Khalifa expressed hope for future expansion into host countries, citing an example where refugee women constitute over 80 percent of the population in some countries and stressing their need for focused support.
On their initiatives, Dr. Khalifa said they are engaging with donors worldwide to advocate for more resources, particularly in healthcare, to address the needs of refugee women.
"We are also communicating with host countries to ensure their legal frameworks enable women to access proper healthcare and eliminate any obstacles that prevent refugees from receiving necessary medical services."
"I hope the world will adopt a more compassionate approach to the situation of refugees moving forward," he said. Prof.
Sherine Farouk, Associate Provost for Academic Projects and Internationalisation, told Aletihad that the conference focused on the challenges faced by refugee women in disaster-affected areas due to climate change, spotlighting the university's commitment to women's health.
"The conference aimed to manage the health of refugee women, develop strategies to address climate change, and explore innovative solutions, bringing together experts, decision-makers, and stakeholders interested in this vital issue," she said.
