An IOM programme is currently providing much needed psychosocial
support to thousands of Iraqi children and teenagers who have fled
to Jordan to escape violence in Iraq.

The Australian-funded programme, which is carried out in
partnership with the Jordanian Ministry of Education, UNICEF,
national and international NGOs, aims to improve the mental
wellbeing of traumatized children through a range of interactive
events, including drawing, story telling and plays performed in
selected schools and host communities throughout Jordan.

As part of the programme, IOM has also trained 100 social
workers, school teachers and staff from NGOs who work alongside
displaced Iraqis.

"By encouraging young people to share their trauma with trained
partners, we help them break away from their social isolation and
help them build bridges with the communities in which they live,"
says IOM Amman Chief of Mission Davide Terzi.

The number of Iraqis displaced in Jordan is estimated at between
500,000 and 750,000, with three out of four Iraqi families having
children and youth under the age of 18.

An assessment on the psychosocial needs of Iraqis displaced in
Jordan and Lebanon carried out by IOM and partners in 2008 revealed
high levels of emotional and psychological distress among Iraqis in
both countries, with more than half of the 800 Iraqis interviewed
disclosing distress factors including panic attacks, anger,
tiredness, sleep problems and fear – especially among
children and youth.

For those who had experienced direct violent attacks – 21
per cent of the refugee sample in Jordan and 34 per cent in Lebanon
– including witnessing assassinations of relatives and
friends, torture, rape or kidnappings, psychological distress was
overwhelming.

The insecurity of their refugee life, a lack of employment and
the de-professionalization of parents whose qualifications are not
recognized, poor living conditions and access to health and social
services, including education, has further aggravated the
situation, particularly among Iraqis who have been displaced for
two years or longer.

The report further noted that domestic violence is on the
increase among the refugee families as men lose their traditional
role of breadwinner with the breakdown of social structures, a
sense of disorientation within the Iraqi communities in the two
countries, and few opportunities to engage in social activities
leading to physical expressions of anger and frustration.

According to the report, many children showed behavioural and
learning difficulties attributed not to just distress and stress in
the family but also due to differences in the school curricula
between Iraq and their host country and prolonged absences from
school during the displacement process.

The study stressed that despite their obvious problems and need
for psychosocial assistance, Iraqis in Jordan are unlikely to refer
to such assistance due to a traditional stigmatization of mental
health problems, the lack or difficulty in accessing appropriate
services in the two countries and the lack of outreach on this
issue among the refugee communities.

For further information, please contact:

Hala Abutayeh

IOM Amman

Tel: +962 6562 5080

E-mail: "mailto:habutayeh@iom.int">habutayeh@iom.int