Refugee Women at Turkey-Greece Border Waiting for Help

* Photos: Women's Defense Network

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"When we look at it from the perspective of women, the situation is much worse. The women waiting on the border have to struggle against racism and discrimination in addition to sexism. Moreover, the biggest problem of women is health conditions. The right to health of women and children waiting on the border has been a hundred percent disregarded."

These observations have been shared with bianet by Sezen Özkan from the Women's Defense Network (Kadın Savunma Ağı).

A group of women including Özkan were at Pazarkule Border Gate in Turkey's northwestern province of Edirne bordering Greece and they observed the conditions of refugees waiting there on behalf of the Network.

Özkan has told us that they brought water, baby food and sanitary pads to refugees, underlining that solidarity is important, especially for women.

'Women cannot even get in the line for help'

Özkan has shared the following observations with bianet:

"When we look at it from the perspective of women, we cannot see them in the aid line formed by the United Nations (UN). The UN does not give aid in a systematic manner anyway. It is very problematic and unplanned.

"But women cannot even get in the line for help. Because there are several men and - as women have the full responsibility for their children -  they cannot wait in this line with the children.

'Toilet and water are the biggest problems'

Reiterating that the biggest problem faced by refugee women is sanitary pads, Özkan has also stated the following:

"There are no sanitary pads, no baby food, no water... Women are in poverty there. Women have no center to appeal to. We especially asked them... Is there rape or harassment? Women said that there is no such a problem, because what all everyone cares about is to go across to the other side of the border. It is - of course - great that there is no such problem, but women and children do not have safety of life there anyway.

'Erdoğan told us "You can go"'

According to Özkan, most refugees referred to President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and said, "Erdoğan told us that we could go." Özkan has also stated:

"We went to a village near Greece. The number of refugees increases there especially at night. We have heard that they are experiencing serious problems in that village. But, there is unfortunately no orderly aid system. Even the most basic rights are not met."

Concluding her remarks, Sezen Özkan from the Women's Defense Network has called on everyone to solidarize with refugee women.

(EMK/SD)