No Refuge for Women

October 1, 2017

During the refugee crisis in 2015, German journalist von Welser noticed that most Syrian refugees arriving in Europe were men. This drew her to visit refugee camps in Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon to learn about Syrian women and children who had been left behind. The author starts by telling the story of Miryam, who fled Damascus with her five children. Interviews with other women in various refugee camps allows von Welser firsthand accounts of the appalling living conditions inside the camps, including the ongoing fears of rape, forced marriage, and human trafficking. Challenges facing the host countries, UN, and refugee aid workers are also discussed. Most of the refugees wish to settle in Germany, which drives the author's focus on German refugee policy, including a time line of refugee-related events from April 2015 through March 2016. Finally, she pleads with the international community to increase their donations to help refugees and to accept more refugees into their countries. VERDICT An unflinching look at the Syrian refugee crisis and the struggles facing women and children in search of a better life.--Rebekah Kati, Durham, NC

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