Alexandra Bradford covers war, conflicts and humanitarian issues in the Middle East for English print. Follow her work at alexandrabradford.com and @alexdbradford. https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/contributor/alexandra-bradford/rss en Health Wed, 03 Jan 2018 10:38:39 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2018/01/03/the-syrian-doctor-building-an-underground-hospital-for-women-and-girls-2 https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2018/01/03/the-syrian-doctor-building-an-underground-hospital-for-women-and-girls-2 With Syria’s healthcare system crippled by conflict, women and children are dying from treatable illnesses. One doctor and his team are providing them safe, dedicated medical care by building hospitals below ground, out of the reach of airstrikes. Crisis and Conflict Health Wed, 03 Jan 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2018/01/03/the-syrian-doctor-building-an-underground-hospital-for-women-and-girls https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2018/01/03/the-syrian-doctor-building-an-underground-hospital-for-women-and-girls With Syria’s healthcare system crippled by conflict, women and children are dying from treatable illnesses. One doctor and his team are providing them safe, dedicated medical care by building hospitals below ground, out of the reach of airstrikes. Civil Society ISIS Wed, 08 Nov 2017 05:00:05 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/11/08/women-at-forefront-of-humanitarian-demining-efforts-in-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/11/08/women-at-forefront-of-humanitarian-demining-efforts-in-syria The explosive remnants of war pose a long-term threat to reconstruction and peacebuilding efforts in Syria. Women, however, are playing a notably growing role as humanitarian groups shift their focus to land-mine clearing and risk education. Solutions Wed, 27 Sep 2017 10:25:49 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/09/27/handmade-dolls-tell-stories-of-struggle-and-hope-from-war-torn-syria-2 https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/09/27/handmade-dolls-tell-stories-of-struggle-and-hope-from-war-torn-syria-2 Created by two Syrian sisters in Lebanon, the dolls in the Ana Collection are decorated with images representing the fears and dreams of people living through the conflict raging in Syria. Crisis and Conflict Solutions Wed, 27 Sep 2017 10:11:59 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/09/27/handmade-dolls-tell-stories-of-struggle-and-hope-from-war-torn-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/09/27/handmade-dolls-tell-stories-of-struggle-and-hope-from-war-torn-syria Created by two Syrian sisters in Lebanon, the dolls in the Ana Collection are decorated with images representing the fears and dreams of people living through the conflict raging in Syria. Health Thu, 31 Aug 2017 14:21:51 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/08/31/in-syrias-war-mental-health-is-the-last-priority https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/08/31/in-syrias-war-mental-health-is-the-last-priority Zaher Sahloul, a physician with the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), discusses the state of mental healthcare in Syria, the psychological impact of the conflict and what initiatives must be taken to address the country’s mental health crisis. Civil Society Mon, 28 Aug 2017 07:34:05 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/08/28/the-syrian-women-saving-lives-as-volunteers-for-the-white-helmets-2 https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/08/28/the-syrian-women-saving-lives-as-volunteers-for-the-white-helmets-2 In Syria, volunteer emergency workers known as the White Helmets risk their lives to save people from bomb sites and airstrikes. At first, the White Helmets were made up only of men, but over the past few years, more than 100 female volunteers have joined their ranks. Crisis and Conflict Thu, 24 Aug 2017 03:18:27 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/community/2017/08/24/the-syrian-women-saving-lives-as-volunteers-for-the-white-helmets https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/community/2017/08/24/the-syrian-women-saving-lives-as-volunteers-for-the-white-helmets In Syria, volunteer emergency workers known as the White Helmets risk their lives to save people from bomb sites and airstrikes. At first, the White Helmets were made up only of men, but over the past few years, more than 100 female volunteers have joined their ranks. Crises & Conflicts Education Tue, 25 Jul 2017 03:03:47 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/07/25/syrian-refugee-fights-child-marriage-and-abuse-of-young-divorcees-3 https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/07/25/syrian-refugee-fights-child-marriage-and-abuse-of-young-divorcees-3 As someone who was married as a child, Rawda al-Mazloum, a Syrian refugee in Lebanon, is working hard to prevent this from happening to girls in the refugee camp where she lives. Mazloum has experienced stigma for being divorced, and warns that young refugee divorcees are particularly vulnerable to abuse. Education Mon, 24 Jul 2017 06:27:45 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/07/24/syrian-refugee-fights-child-marriage-and-abuse-of-young-divorcees-2 https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/07/24/syrian-refugee-fights-child-marriage-and-abuse-of-young-divorcees-2 As someone who was married as a child, Rawda al-Mazloum, a Syrian refugee in Lebanon, is working hard to prevent this from happening to girls in the refugee camp where she lives. Mazloum has experienced stigma for being divorced, and warns that young refugee divorcees are particularly vulnerable to abuse. Crisis and Conflict Education Fri, 21 Jul 2017 12:50:59 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/07/21/syrian-refugee-fights-child-marriage-and-abuse-of-young-divorcees https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/07/21/syrian-refugee-fights-child-marriage-and-abuse-of-young-divorcees As someone who was married as a child, Rawda al-Mazloum, a Syrian refugee in Lebanon, is working hard to prevent this from happening to girls in the refugee camp where she lives. Mazloum has experienced stigma for being divorced, and warns that young refugee divorcees are particularly vulnerable to abuse. Crisis and Conflict Gender-Based Violence Thu, 08 Jun 2017 11:47:20 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/06/08/mass-sexual-violence-leaves-rohingya-women-traumatized-and-stateless https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/06/08/mass-sexual-violence-leaves-rohingya-women-traumatized-and-stateless The United Nations has documented shocking accounts of sexual violence, including gang rape, against Rohingya women and girls at the hands of Myanmar’s military. News Deeply spoke with a U.N. investigator about what she found when she talked to survivors. Gender-Based Violence Solutions Thu, 18 May 2017 13:26:44 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/05/18/kabuls-all-female-restaurant-gives-abuse-survivors-a-taste-of-freedom https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/05/18/kabuls-all-female-restaurant-gives-abuse-survivors-a-taste-of-freedom One of the fixtures on Kabul’s dining scene is the only restaurant in the country run and staffed by women, all of whom have survived abuse at the hands of men in their families. Health Solutions Wed, 10 May 2017 10:51:41 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/community/2017/05/10/the-fight-against-fgm-in-singapores-malay-muslim-community https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/community/2017/05/10/the-fight-against-fgm-in-singapores-malay-muslim-community The practice of female genital mutilation among the Malay Muslim community is not widely discussed in Singapore, although most girls are cut before the age of one. The AWARE advocacy group is working to end the practice via grassroots activism. Culture Heroes Tue, 18 Apr 2017 12:01:39 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/community/2017/04/18/afghanistans-first-female-conductor-braves-death-threats-to-make-music https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/community/2017/04/18/afghanistans-first-female-conductor-braves-death-threats-to-make-music Negin Khpalwak has had to risk her life to become Afghanistan’s first female orchestra conductor. But she says it’s worth it – not only for the music, but also because she’s inspiring other Afghan women to assert their rights. Crisis and Conflict Fri, 07 Apr 2017 12:21:15 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/04/07/ambassador-lene-lind-on-norways-mission-for-syrian-women-in-lebanon https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/04/07/ambassador-lene-lind-on-norways-mission-for-syrian-women-in-lebanon For Lene Natasha Lind, Norway’s ambassador to Lebanon, a big part of the job is dealing with the Syrian crisis – and in particular the struggles of refugee women, who face high levels of domestic violence and find it difficult to enter the workforce. Health Human Rights Wed, 05 Apr 2017 14:38:08 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/04/05/the-aftermath-of-an-alleged-chemical-weapon-attack-in-idlib https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/04/05/the-aftermath-of-an-alleged-chemical-weapon-attack-in-idlib Dr. Abdel Hay Tennari, who treated at least 22 critical victims from the alleged toxic gas attack in Khan Sheikhoun, said his patients’ symptoms were consistent with Sarin gas and the field hospital where he works has run out of the antidote. Crisis and Conflict Mon, 27 Mar 2017 11:58:18 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/03/27/former-boko-haram-captives-face-stigma-often-survivors https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/03/27/former-boko-haram-captives-face-stigma-often-survivors As part of our “Women and Jihad” series, we look at how escape from Boko Haram doesn’t always mean the end of the ordeal, as former militants’ ‘wives’ are often rejected and verbally abused by other female abductees. Entrepreneurship Mon, 20 Mar 2017 11:45:00 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/womensadvancement/articles/2017/03/20/iraq-refugees-rebuild-lives-starting-small-businesses https://www.newsdeeply.com/womensadvancement/articles/2017/03/20/iraq-refugees-rebuild-lives-starting-small-businesses With her NGO, the Sisterhood Collective, Jessica Courtney grants funding to women living in refugee and IDP camps in Iraq so they can start up their own small businesses and support their families, even if aid dries up. Refugee Voices Tue, 14 Mar 2017 12:35:35 +0000 Alexandra Bradford https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/03/14/110256 https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/03/14/110256 As part of the “Women and Jihad” series, Women & Girls Hub meet the Yazidi women and men living abroad who are working to free ISIS captives and hold perpetrators to account.