Impact of Syrian violence on women

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has said it is especially worried about the effects on women's health and that of youngsters and their families due to the escalating violence in civil war-torn Syria.

Areas which have found themselves caught up in the conflict have left citizens with no choice but to flee their homes, with many women and young girls escaping to supposed safety in Iraq's Kurdistan region.

The organisation has put out a plea that women and girls in the Damascus area are still able to access the obstetric care that many will so desperately need, saying that the onus lay with both the Syrian government and rebels to ensure that they are protected, despite the ruinous social and political upheaval.

This is because major cities are being put under a huge amount of pressure to cope with the internal displacement that is a direct result of the civil conflict.

UNFPA executive director Dr Babatunde Osotimehin comments: 

"If there is one thing we know about Syria it is women, girls, youth and their families have suffered far too much for too long."

"Syria's conflict is gradually ripping apart the social fabric and breaking down families' structures."