Women and children are often referred to as the most vulnerable groups in society, particularly during conflicts. The impact of displacement that follows when people are resettled into IDP camps are often harrowing. This question thus seeks know the impact of displacement, with particular reference to women and children in such IDPs' camps across the world. .
women and children mostly face basic needs which are majorly : biological and physiological needs like air, food, drink , shelter, warmth, sleep etc., they are also faced with security needs like protection, order, law , stability etc.(Maslow 1943). these challenges affect their psychological balance and make them act in different ways that are not normal. some of the IDP population,can degenerate to depression and at worst case scenario, some may think of committing suicide. some children who are usually tender may tend towards imbibing abnormal bad habits, traits and become deformed individuals in terms of over all emotional, spiritual and psychological well being.
When it comes to the Muslim women. They have lots of problems . Because Islamic value doesn't allow them to show their face public. When it come to using the bathroom they feel awkward and shy. For married women breastfeeding their newborn infant is an issue. The issue ranges from their own personal nutrition supply to find a close place where they fearlessly feed them. Also, the thread of raping is always been there.
The women whose husbands are not educated they are lazy and they are used to order their wives to do things from them . Like fetching water for them, cook food for them and give them the massage. They cannot deny it because they consider it their social responsibility as well as Islamic values.
The fact that these people have been displaced in itself is an issue. Change is not always easy and may result to anxiety and this obviously will have strong impact of children's development, seldom a scar which is difficult to heal. In a normal growing environment, each person needs their own space and privacy and this is not always available in the IDPs not to mention vulnerability of being sexually abused since mechanism that might prevent such abuse may not always be strongly endorsed. This obviously can impact the life of women and children. Security could be another area where women and children might feel let down by the establishment. The security that they experience before displacement, based on close family ties might be absent and this no doubt will affect their behaviour and relationship.
displacement affects children's primary socialization process as they are exposed to a vast of people's decayed moral behaviors. There is no adequate education and more so everyone's frustrations lands on them especially from their mothers who become mentally unstable. You could imagine what will become of them in the next 10 to 15 years. The women on the other hand had previously enjoyed being cared for by their husbands find themselves as head of households which they had never done (later when they return to their families they will need to learn again to be wives and be submissive).
The most vulnerable of the internally displaced persons indeed are the women and children. from the living conditions in the IDP camps to the sex division of labour as well as exploitation. most of the IDP results from either conflicts or natural disasters and the psychological impact is huge especially on women who normally shoulder the psychological welbeing of their families. During the conflict, they suffer much and most are raped and sexually molested. As primary caregivers, a bilogical role that has been exploited by partriachy to exploit and subjugate women and girls, they are already in mourning for the loss as well as displacement. the effects of displacement may be adverse because women tend to be sexually exploited for even what is their rights, from food rations, provision of basic necessities for sanitation to doing household tasks while their male counterparts just relax with flimsy reasons like planning and strategizing their next course of action. women and children dont get to make decisions regarding their lives as IDPs. They are never consulted regarding issues of resettlement and this adds to the psychological trama they already have.
Due to vulnerability, the IDP children and Women/or men, will face with three critical challenges: Access, Power, and safety/security. There are multiple subsets for each of these. For instance, their access to education can be restricted or a quality water. Concerning Power, they can be exposed to many dynamic power-relation at the site from different individuals, even the humanitarian worker.
I have highlighted the challenges faced by displaced persons particular women and children in one of my recent publications titled Factors Responsible for the Creation of Internally Displaced Persons and the Challenges they are Facing in Katsina State Nigeria. Journal of Conflict Resolution and Social Issues 2 (1) : 8-22.
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