Iraqi widows need assistance, groups say

BAGHDAD, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Groups working on women's rights in Iraq are divided over how to effectively cope with the growing number of widowed Iraqis, authorities say.

Mazin al-Shihan with the Baghdad-based Displacement Committee said there are an estimated 1 million widows in Iraq, when considering those whose husbands died of natural causes. He said that number puts a terrible strain on efforts toward internally displaced Iraqis and general reconciliation efforts in the country, the United Nations' humanitarian news network, IRIN, said.

Shihan said his group was working to develop a plan to encourage men to apply for special government funding if they were looking for marriage to widows. His project would set aside $8,500 for such men.

But Hanaa Adwar, the head of the non-governmental organization al-Amal ("The Hope"), said the proposal was a cruel rejection of women's place in society.

"What we need is to rehabilitate this segment (of the population) to be independent and productive elements of society," she said.

Iraq established a social welfare program in 2003 to provide those in need, including widows and divorced women, with about $60 per month, though many aid officials say that is insufficient.

"Iraqi widows, especially internally displaced widows in camps, are having a tough time," Shihan said.