Syrian Refugee Women Traumatic Experiences: Qualitative Study

Background: The Syrian war created a mass exodus of citizens to neighboring countries. Syrians seeking refuge have been exposed to trauma beyond the comprehension of most. This study explores the war-traumatic-experiences of Syrian women before escaping to Jordan, the journey they undertook during the period when the rebel groups and regime were fighting each other (before ISIS in Syria) to escape the atrocities, their reception at Jordan’s refugee camp, and their resettlement challenges in Jordan’s urban communities

Methods: The sample, gathered between March and June 2014, included 20 open-ended interviews (conducted in Arabic) with Syrian women refugees seeking services from humanitarian organizations in Jordan. A thematic analysis was conducted documenting the common experiences within each of the four segments of the respondents’ journeys as well as the diversity and uniqueness of their experiences. This research was approved by the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, University of California, Berkeley. Only oral consent was required.

Findings: Interviewed refugees (N=20) were 100% females; mean age 37. They were married M=15.5 years at the age of M=22; attained M=10.25 years of education, had M=4.29 children, and lived in one household with M=6.26 members. 71% came to Jordan with their spouses. 85% described their economic status as low and very low.

94% of the refugees were exposed to war experiences.

Women reported on the urgency to escape Syria under shelling in trying to protect their children’s lives and their own. In great agony they described being forced to separate from extended families, sick parents, children and husbands, the loss of property and economic resources, neighbors, friends and their social support systems. In addition, they have witnessed the mass killing of thousands, rape, torture and other violent human violations.

During their journeys they reported feelings of anxiety, sadness, uncertainty and fear of an unknown future. The journeys were accompanied by hyper-alertness and fears of being caught by combatants, and being robbed, raped, or executed. When they succeeded in crossing the borders and were admitted to the Zaatari refugee camp, they obtained the new titles of refugees and were overwhelmed with emotions of uprooting, diaspora, and being taken advantage of because they were women.

When the women succeeded in escaping or were released from the camp, they entered the urban communities in Jordan. As newly resettled refugees, they faced housing difficulties, high cost of living, illegality of work, scarce economic resources, poverty, incapacity to admit their children to schools, and the hostility of the locals. They remained attentive to the events in Syria, continuously seeking information on family members trapped at home. Many reported their hope to be able to return to Syria and their sadness on losing their country. They expressed mixed feelings of disappointment and gratitude for the hospitality offered by local Jordanians.                  

Interpretation: The needs of Syrian refugee women are enormous, challenging the capacity of any host country to being able to address them. This fact raises concerns about the long term consequences for the overall well-being of Syrian refugee women.