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</div> </form> </div> </div> <hr/> <div id="content" class="span-13 append-1"> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-12169"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2011/01/10/occupation-of-iraq-destroys-womens-lives/#respond" title="Comment on Occupation of Iraq destroys women’s lives">No Comments</a></span> Posted on January 10th, 2011 by Fatima Jameel</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2011/01/10/occupation-of-iraq-destroys-womens-lives/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Occupation of Iraq destroys women’s lives">Occupation of Iraq destroys women’s lives</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/english-articles/" title="View all posts in English Language Articles" rel="category tag">English Language Articles</a>, <a 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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sectarianism/" rel="tag">sectarianism</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sex-trafficking/" rel="tag">sex trafficking</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sexual-abuse/" rel="tag">sexual abuse</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sexual-slavery/" rel="tag">sexual slavery</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sons-of-iraq/" rel="tag">Sons of Iraq</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/statistics/" rel="tag">statistics</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/torture/" rel="tag">Torture</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/unemployment/" rel="tag">unemployment</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/unemployment-levels/" rel="tag">unemployment levels</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/unhcr/" rel="tag">UNHCR</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/unicef/" rel="tag">UNICEF</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/war-crimes/" rel="tag">War Crimes</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/widows/" rel="tag">Widows</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/wikileaks/" rel="tag">Wikileaks</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/womens/" rel="tag">women's</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/womens-rights/" rel="tag">Women's Rights</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>More than seven years after the US- and UK-led invasion of their country, Iraqis continue to endure an occupation that has systematically violated their rights to life, dignity, self-determination and economic development. The occupation has been and continues to be so destructive and so violent that one in four Iraqis are estimated to be dead or displaced. One in five Iraqis has been made a refugee or an internally displaced person (IDP). </p> <div style="border-right: black 1px solid; padding-right: 5px; border-top: black 1px solid; padding-left: 5px; float: right; padding-bottom: 5px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; border-left: black 1px solid; width: 300px; padding-top: 5px; border-bottom: black 1px solid"> <p>Serene Assir, <i>The Electronic Intifada,</i> 10 January 2011 </p> <p><em>Serene Assir is a Lebanese independent writer and journalist based in Spain.</em></p> <p>Source: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11723.shtml" class="external" target="_blank">ei: Occupation of Iraq destroys women’s lives</a></p> </p></div> <p>In particular, the role and situation of women and girls has declined precipitously compared to prior to the invasion. From torture to rape to assassination, from forced separation for mixed couples to women and their children enduring the death of their husbands and fathers, from a loss of educational rights to expulsion from the workplace and public life, and from sexual slavery to forced flight or enforced disappearance, for the past seven years Iraqi women and girls have endured the most terrifying of fates. They are living at the mercy of an occupation that both seeks to terrorize them into submission, and to use them as objects for the terrorization of the whole of Iraqi society. </p> <h3>No security </h3> <p>Dr. Souad al-Azzawi, who authored a study on Iraqi women entitled "Deterioration of Iraq women’s rights and living conditions under occupation," published in January 2008, told The Electronic Intifada: "The most significant loss that Iraqi women have suffered is a complete and total loss of security." She explained that the loss of security entails both the loss of physical security and "the economic, social and civil securities Iraqi women were so accustomed to prior to the occupation." </p> <p>In fact, it appears that the loss of physical and other aspects of security have a Catch-22 effect on the lives of women. The lack of legal and institutional support for women by an Iraqi puppet government which is at best ineffective has meant that in the vast majority of cases the criminals, mafias, militias, death squads, US occupation forces and Iraqi police and army forces committing crimes against women are not held accountable for their actions. This has in turn encouraged the development of a situation characterized by lawlessness and criminality, in which women are prime targets. As such, many women have been forced to leave their jobs and quit their education, for fear that they may be the next victim of rape or assassination. </p> <p>According to al-Azzawi, Iraqi women have had to resort to "the relative security of their homes," often taking their children out of school too if they were the only parent able to accompany them there and back. </p> <p>Echoing al-Azzawi’s words, an Iraqi refugee speaking on condition of anonymity said that she was forced to leave Iraq precisely because of death threats issued against her by militias who had found out she was actively working as a journalist seeking to expose the injustices taking place against women. Had she stayed in Iraq, the threats likely would have been fulfilled. </p> <p>"Not only was I being targeted, but I was also without protection, given that Iraq has no government to speak of," she explained. She added that "I could have been killed at any moment, and no one would have been held accountable for it. It was for one reason alone that I fled: because I had no choice." </p> <h3>Criminal levels of poverty </h3> <p>The figures speak for themselves. According to a dossier on Iraqi women published by the BRussells Tribunal, prior to the invasion 72 percent of working women were government employees. The dismantlement of state institutions immediately after the invasion meant that these women became unemployed. Instability and ineffective institutions in Iraq render it impossible to pinpoint the total rate of unemployment today, but estimates range from 15 percent to 70 percent. The few stable jobs that exist, according to the dossier, are usually given to men, though a growing number of female-headed households means that many women need to take extraordinary risks in order to try and cater for their children ("<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.brussellstribunal.org/pdf/Women.pdf" class="external" target="_blank">Iraqi Women Under Occupation</a>" [PDF]). </p> <p>The same economic insecurity affects Iraqi refugee families. Aseer al-Madaien, the Protection Officer for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – Syria, says that out of 139,000 registered Iraqis in Syria, 28 percent are households headed by women. In total, estimates for the total number of displaced Iraqis, including both refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), range up to almost five million, according to the international organization Medecins Sans Frontieres, which believes that there are 2.5 million Iraqi IDPs and 2.3 million refugees. </p> <p>IDPs suffer both extreme vulnerability and insecurity, as they seek refuge in the homes of relatives and friends, said Hana Al Bayaty, member of the Executive Committee of the BRussells Tribunal. Many of them are the victims of ethnic cleansing, whereby a country once free of sectarianism is increasingly witnessing the targeting of persons on the basis of their religion or ethnicity. Mixed marriages in these conditions are all too often broken up by force, according to a report published by the UN-affiliated IRIN humanitarian news agency ("<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=26268" class="external" target="_blank">Mixed Marriages confront Sectarian Violence</a>," 6 April 2006). </p> <p>The majority of Iraqi refugees have headed to neighboring countries Syria and Jordan, where they are not allowed to work, as they are legally considered "guests." In 2007, the UNHCR reported that an estimated 40 percent of Iraq’s middle class had fled the country. Not only have almost half of those with the qualifications and experience to help rebuild Iraq left the country, but they are also suffering from the most extreme form of disempowerment, according to Al Bayaty. </p> <p>Al-Azzawi explained that "For the educated middle class, this situation is shattering as everything we have worked so hard to earn and build up over decades of war and sanctions is being brought down by military force before our very eyes." </p> <p>Unable to work legally, it is often refugee women who take upon themselves the burden and the risk of working as they are less likely to be asked for documentation on the streets of Amman, Damascus and beyond, and they thereby hope to be less likely to be deported. </p> <p>Unemployment levels in Syria and Jordan, however, mean that even illegal work is hard to come by. It is because of this that the phenomenon of forced prostitution is becoming increasingly rife. The growing problem of sex trafficking is partly caused by poverty. </p> <p>According to al-Azzawi, the lack of work permits, qualifications and opportunities "leads some women to prostitution in order to feed their children and their families." In other cases, the sheer lack of protection faced by some women push them into prostitution. Problems in such cases include threats of kidnapping issued against women should they not accept to prostitute themselves. These threats are issued especially against women whose husbands are dead or missing. "The women of Iraq live in a very fragile situation as a result of the American occupation’s crimes," al-Azzawi said. </p> <h3>Death, torture and enforced disappearance </h3> <p>No statistical reference can adequately convey the sheer suffering experienced by the people of Iraq, as a whole, from the genocidal sanctions period through the invasion and ensuing occupation. Current estimates place the number of dead at anywhere between 1.5 million and 2.5 million. </p> <p>According to Iraqi human rights analyst and advocate Asma al-Haidari, "Up to one million Iraqis have been forcibly disappeared." Behind the enforced disappearances are the US army, Iraqi government forces including the army and police, and al-Qaeda and other militias that operate freely across the country, according to a presentation given by Dirk Adriaensens, member of the BRussells Tribunal Executive Committee, at a London conference organized by the International Committee Against Disappearances on 9-12 December 2010. According to calculations by Adriaensens, based on UNHCR statistics, 20 percent of internally displaced Iraqi families have reported cases of missing children ("<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.brussellstribunal.org/pdf/Disappearances_missing_persons_in_Iraq.pdf" class="external" target="_blank">Enforced Disappearance. The Missing Persons of Iraq</a>" [PDF]). </p> <p>It is also understood that, given that there is a very real and justified fear of retaliation against families who report the disappearances of their loved ones, many others suffer in silence. Thousands of detainees, some of them in secret, illegal prisons, according to al-Azzawi, are women. Estimates published in 2008 by the Iraqi Parliamentary Women’s Committee and the Iraqi Ministry of Women’s Affairs indicate that between one and two million Iraqi women are widows. </p> <p>Inside Iraq’s jails, legal or not, cases of torture and sexual abuse have been widely reported. Revelations by WikiLeaks published on 22 October 2010 were described by Iraqi activists such as Sabah al-Mukhtar, president of the Arab Lawyers’ Union, as just "the tip of the iceberg," as he said on an Al-Jazeera English interview on 24 October. According to al-Azzawi, women are usually jailed on trumped-up charges of terrorism, where there is no proof and while there is no adequate legal system to ensure their right to a fair trial. "Many are awaiting execution," al-Azzawi added. </p> <p>Further, when it is the man who disappears, whether he is dead or missing, women and their families have to fend for themselves in a hellish situation. Out of this horror comes forth one of the more obtuse trends, inexistent in Iraq up until 2003, of families giving their daughters away in early marriage for fear of being unable to adequately support them. </p> <p>One immediate effect of this phenomenon is the fact that girls aged 13, 14 and 15 sold into early marriage lose their right to education. As figures currently stand, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report published on 1 September 2010, for every 100 boys in school, there are only 89 girls ("<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MCOI-89RD6Y?OpenDocument" class="external" target="_blank">Girls Education in Iraq 2010</a>" [PDF]). </p> <p>"Lots of those little girls are very bright and are willing to finish their education if they are allowed to," said al-Azzawi. </p> <p>Worse still is the flourishing of what are known as "pleasure marriages." These are short-term marriages conducted out of court, whereby separation is also very simple. It is a practice that Iraqi women’s rights advocates describe as linked to prostitution, because of the wrongful abuse of the practice by men in power, often blackmailing fathers into giving their daughters away in a "pleasure marriage," and also because once a girl or a woman has married in this way and has received alimony for her short-term commitment, she will find it very difficult to reintegrate back into her family. </p> <p>"Many girls are forced into prostitution and ultimately sex trafficking this way," al-Azzawi added. </p> <h3>Forced Islamization of society </h3> <p>It is deeply telling that Iraqi society is becoming forcibly Islamized by militias tied to the Iraqi puppet government, which is dependent upon the United States for its survival. Meanwhile, Washington claims to be fighting a war on Islamic terrorism. The reality, as is frequently the case, is the precise opposite. Previously a secular state, Iraqi society is becoming forcibly transformed into a theocracy. In such systems, women and girls inevitably lose. </p> <p>The results of the proliferation of fundamentalist militias are varied. While reports of Christian women veiling in order to avoid attacks are troubling in the Iraqi context, what is potentially much worse is that the notion of an Iraqi state for all its citizens is fast disappearing. Not only does this mean that Iraqi girls are no longer safe on the streets; it also means that if the occupation fulfills its goals, Iraqi "career women" may be a thing of the past. </p> <p>Al-Azzawi notes that "Economically the country has lost a huge, skilled working force, which is exactly what the occupation planned to do, and the lives of millions of working women and families were shattered." </p> <p>Considering that there is not a single right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that the US occupation has not violated — as the International Initiative to Prosecute US Genocide in Iraq team found when working in 2009 to bring a legal case for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide against four US presidents and four UK prime ministers — it is amazing yet encouraging that the US occupation’s goals have failed. </p> <p>Not only is the US administration under President Barack Obama still battling to maintain control over a country whose people resist in the name of their dignity and their love for Iraq, but many of the most outspoken and brilliant advocates for Iraqis’ rights in general are in fact women. </p> <p>"I have much hope for Iraq," said human rights advocate Asma al-Haidari, "Nothing will make me lose hope." </p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-12031"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/12/28/iraqi-refugees-interpreting-the-statistics/#respond" title="Comment on Iraqi refugees – interpreting the statistics">No Comments</a></span> Posted on December 28th, 2010 by Abdus-Samad</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/12/28/iraqi-refugees-interpreting-the-statistics/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Iraqi refugees – interpreting the statistics">Iraqi refugees – interpreting the statistics</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/english-articles/" title="View all posts in English Language Articles" rel="category tag">English Language Articles</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/human-rights/" title="View all posts in Human Rights" rel="category tag">Human Rights</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/brookings-institution/" rel="tag">Brookings Institution</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/damascus/" rel="tag">Damascus</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/food/" rel="tag">food</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/host-governments/" rel="tag">host governments</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/idps-internal-refugees/" rel="tag">IDPs (Internal Refugees)</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/international-organization-for-migration/" rel="tag">international organization for migration</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/iraqi-refugee/" rel="tag">iraqi refugee</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/iraqi-refugees/" rel="tag">iraqi refugees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irin/" rel="tag">IRIN</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/jordan/" rel="tag">Jordan</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/middle-east/" rel="tag">Middle East</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/migrants/" rel="tag">migrants</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/migration/" rel="tag">migration</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/population-mobility/" rel="tag">population mobility</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugee-agency/" rel="tag">refugee agency</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugee-population/" rel="tag">refugee population</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugees/" rel="tag">Refugees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugees-international/" rel="tag">Refugees International</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/repatriation/" rel="tag">repatriation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/returned-refugees/" rel="tag">Returned Refugees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/returnees/" rel="tag">returnees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sectarian-violence/" rel="tag">sectarian violence</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/security-situation/" rel="tag">security situation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/situation-in-iraq/" rel="tag">situation in iraq</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/statistics/" rel="tag">statistics</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/syria/" rel="tag">Syria</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/unhcr/" rel="tag">UNHCR</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/violence/" rel="tag">violence</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/world-food-programme/" rel="tag">World Food Programme</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>DAMASCUS, 28 December 2010 (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=91464" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN</a>) – Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis fled the country after sectarian violence broke out following the 2003 war which toppled Saddam Hussein. However, the precise number of refugees is hard to ascertain and fluctuates in line with changing perceptions and the security situation in Iraq. </p> <p>"It would be nice to have the full picture, but the special circumstances of the Iraqi refugee population means we don’t… although we have a good idea of the refugees registered with us," said Andrew Harper, head of the UN Refugee Agency’s (UNHCR) Iraq Support Unit in Geneva. </p> <p>Host governments (largely in the Middle East) at one time estimated that more than 2.5 million Iraqis had fled to their countries. But that statistic is now too high, say independent experts not affiliated with UNHCR. Distinguishing between refugees and other migrants, and deducting the number of those who have returned to Iraq for good can be difficult. </p> <p>UNHCR has registered just over 400,000 Iraqis since 2003 but currently they have 200,000 on their books. More refugees register every day – some 2,000 per month in Syria. However, the agency says those figures are not definitive. </p> <p>"Many refugees choose not to register with us, either because there is a stigma attached in asking for assistance or they see no reason to register unless they need our services," said Harper. </p> <p>Currently, host governments claim some 1.5 million Iraqis remain on their territories, while Refugees International, a US-based NGO, said it believed only 500,000 Iraqis remained outside the country. </p> <h3>Reasons for discrepancies </h3> <p>The Iraqi refugees are hard to track because they reside almost exclusively in an urban rather than a camp setting, predominantly in Syria and Jordan. In July last year, a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.unhcr.org/4a69ad639.pdf#zoom=66" class="external" target="_blank">UNHCR report detailed the challenges</a>. </p> <p>Population mobility is another factor, according to Harper. Many families are split or commute between Syria and Iraq to see relatives, work, or are checking the situation on the ground. </p> <p>In such a situation, they are harder to count, or may have their files deactivated by UNHCR if they are absent for long periods. UNHCR says mobility is positive as it allows refugees to stay in touch with their country and prepare for an eventual return. </p> <h3>Bald statistics can be misleading </h3> <p>Bald statistics, without a breakdown, can be misleading due to the high rates of movement. Over the past few months, a fairly consistent number of refugees have been registered in Syria – currently some 139,586 – but this figure masks the fact that each month some refugees leave and others register. Some 32,200 files were deactivated in the first 10 months of 2010, 5,408 people were resettled elsewhere, 176 returned to Iraq under the UNHCR voluntary repatriation scheme, and some 18,719 registered in the same time period, UNHCR says. </p> <p>Statistical methods are also variable. "Many Iraqi refugees fled before the war," said Elizabeth Ferris, a senior fellow and Iraq expert at the Brookings Institution. "There is no agreement as to which time period to count people in." </p> <h3>Challenges </h3> <p>Uncertainty over figures has posed challenges for aid agencies, but UNHCR says it bases its planning for staff and budget on the number of refugees it has registered. </p> <p>Predicting trends can also be difficult, say experts. UNHCR has resettled more than 50,000 refugees, mostly in the USA, and assisted more than 2,000 to return to Iraq. But an unknown number is likely to have returned independently. </p> <p>Within Iraq, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) registers returned refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). It says some 130,000 refugees have returned since 2007. </p> <p>"Agencies have got used to working with imprecise figures," said Ferris, "but it is not good practice to develop programmes on this basis." </p> <p>UNHCR contests this argument. "We have precise information regarding the registered refugees and base our programmes on their needs. This information is regularly updated," said Wafa Amr, UNHCR’s regional spokesperson. </p> <p>Agencies have come up with novel techniques to meet the challenges. UNHCR has more than 150 outreach workers in Syria alone who visit neighbourhoods to identify refugees. Publications are used to raise awareness of the plight of the refugees. To maintain the dignity of refugees and overcome challenges posed by refugees living in an urban setting, UNHCR has made cash payments available via an ATM. UNHCR uses SMS text messages to alert refugees, and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) recently rolled out an <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=90560" class="external" target="_blank">SMS food voucher scheme</a>. </p> <h3>IDPs </h3> <p>Despite the uncertainty, no new assessment of the Iraqi refugees is due. "There is a fear the numbers would come in lower and this would have an impact on governments such as Syria and Jordan as it may affect the amount of financing channelled to them," said Ferris. </p> <p>More is known about IDPs, as the Iraqi authorities are better able to track them. UNHCR, Refugees International and Brookings agree on a figure of 1.5 million, 500,000 of whom live in slums. Of the returnees registered with the IOM, 86 percent are IDPs but overall numbers of returnees are said to be low. </p> <p>"Our main concern is that a very substantial number of Iraqis needing assistance are going to remain in 2011 and probably longer," said Amr. </p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=91464" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN Middle East | MIDDLE EAST: Iraqi refugees – interpreting the statistics | Iraq | Syria | Conflict | Refugees/IDPs</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-11935"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/12/13/syria-iraqi-refugees-face-painful-wait-for-artificial-limbs/#respond" title="Comment on SYRIA: Iraqi refugees face painful wait for artificial limbs">No Comments</a></span> Posted on December 13th, 2010 by Abdus-Samad</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/12/13/syria-iraqi-refugees-face-painful-wait-for-artificial-limbs/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to SYRIA: Iraqi refugees face painful wait for artificial limbs">SYRIA: Iraqi refugees face painful wait for artificial limbs</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/children/" title="View all posts in Children" rel="category tag">Children</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/english-articles/" title="View all posts in English Language Articles" rel="category tag">English Language Articles</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/features/" title="View all posts in Features" rel="category tag">Features</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/birth-defects/" rel="tag">birth defects</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/chemical-weapons/" rel="tag">chemical weapons</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/children/" rel="tag">Children</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/damascus/" rel="tag">Damascus</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/domestic-violence/" rel="tag">domestic violence</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/handicapped-people/" rel="tag">handicapped people</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irin/" rel="tag">IRIN</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/photos/" rel="tag">Photos</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/prosthetics/" rel="tag">prosthetics</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/prosthetics-workshops/" rel="tag">prosthetics workshops</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugees/" rel="tag">Refugees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/syria/" rel="tag">Syria</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/terre-des-hommes/" rel="tag">Terre Des Hommes</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/unhcr/" rel="tag">UNHCR</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/who/" rel="tag">WHO</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <p><a title="20101213_captioned_refugees_wait_prosthetics_captioned by Gorillas Guides, on Flickr" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gorillasguides/5257866283/" class="external" target="_blank"><img style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 2px 10px 5px" height="540" alt="20101213_captioned_refugees_wait_prosthetics_captioned" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607im_/http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5257866283_3032ae563a_o.jpg" width="300" align="right"/></a>DAMASCUS, 13 December 2010 (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=91360" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN</a>) – Mohammed*, 38, whose right leg is severed above the knee, is one of many Iraqi refugees waiting for prosthetics at the Syrian branch of charity Terre des hommes (Tdh) orthopedic workshop. </p> <p>Nine years ago, Mohammed, a Sunni Muslim, marry his Shia wife. Both were schoolteachers and had three daughters. </p> <p>But after the 2003 US invasion of Iraq triggered sectarian violence, Mohammed says he was threatened by the Mahdi Army for living in a Shia neighbourhood. </p> <p>In 2006 the militia kidnapped him for ransom. They hung him by chains and tortured him. They also sliced up his right leg with a power drill, he says, and amputated the gangrened limb soon after. </p> <p>Finally freed from captivity during a US military operation, Mohammed testified against his torturers, and then packed up his family and belongings to leave for Damascus. </p> <p>Mohammed now waits for surgery to straighten his twisted right femur bone. Only then can he discard his cumbersome crutches and apply for a fitted prosthetic. </p> <p>Barred from work and solely reliant on the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) for food rations and a monthly living stipend, his family waits to be resettled in a third country. </p> <p>Mohammed says UNHCR recommended he and his introverted older daughter receive counselling for depression. He admits to taking out his anger by beating his wife and children, and that he has considered divorce. </p> <p>In the stone courtyard of Tdh, Mohammed’s story is not uncommon among the mostly Iraqi patients, mauled by the violence of car bombs, unexploded ordnance, torture or chemical warfare. </p> <p>"Our work is 50 percent technical and 50 percent psychological," explains the orthopedic specialist, Khaled Zaynoun. "It’s important to create a special rapport with the patient." </p> <p>There are currently 153,000 Iraqis registered with UNHCR in Syria, out of a total of more than 290,000 since 2003. Off the books, an estimated 1.5 million Iraqis sought shelter in Syria during the height of the conflict. </p> <p>Tdh is overwhelmed. Only a handful of prosthetic production facilities exists in Syria, and the charity is entirely reliant on private donors. It has created an estimated 480 prosthetics and has grants approved for another 35. Zaynoun says he has about 150 disabled refugees, mostly children, still waiting for treatment and the finances for it. </p> <p>"Each case is quite unique, and we try to provide a tailor-made solution for each patient using materials largely imported from Europe," Zaynoun says. </p> <p>"High-end electronic prosthetic limbs can cost between 5,000 [US$6,608] Euros and E20,000 [$26,432]," he says. "The ones we make here cost about E2,000 [$2,643]. They are pretty basic but they allow people to walk and function." </p> <p><strong>Birth defects</strong> </p> <p>Four-year-old Hiba Sabah was born with a genetic defect: both legs are stunted above the knee. Her father Fadi says he and his wife Rana were caught in the middle of heavy fighting in their Baghdad neighbourhood after the US military invasion. </p> <p>When the family finally fled to Syria in 2005, Rana was seven months pregnant with Hiba. The doctors in the Damascus hospital where she was born attributed her deformity to chemical warfare. </p> <p>"Hiba is having a very hard time in school," Fadi says. "During the breaks the kids go out to play but she cannot. She feels left out since she has to stay in the classroom." </p> <p>In October, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Iraqi government announced an ongoing investigation into birth defects across Iraq, after widespread media reports highlighted an alarming rate of deformities caused by radiation and chemical weapons in Fallujah. </p> <p>At the Tdh centre, Hiba dons a pair of prosthetic legs custom-made for her, and awkwardly practises walking across the courtyard. </p> <p>"In the beginning patients feel a lot of pain," explains Zaynoun. "There is a long period of getting used to the prosthetic on a psychological level rather than a physical level, which is fairly straight forward. They need to learn to live with it, and then force other people to treat them fairly. It’s not easy." </p> <p>He acknowledges these expensive limbs come at a price for children like Hiba. "The problem is at her age, she keeps growing." </p> <p>"We rely on private donors but they are not predictable," says her father. He adds that the family receives no additional assistance. "I regret starting this whole process, I don’t know how to replace them." </p> <p>Source: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=91360" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN Middle East | SYRIA: Iraqi refugees face painful wait for artificial limbs | Syria | Refugees/IDPs</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-11724"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/10/27/my-life-is-here/#respond" title="Comment on "My life is here"">No Comments</a></span> Posted on October 27th, 2010 by Khaled</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/10/27/my-life-is-here/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to "My life is here"">"My life is here"</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/english-articles/" title="View all posts in English Language Articles" rel="category tag">English Language Articles</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/human-rights/" title="View all posts in Human Rights" rel="category tag">Human Rights</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/baghdad/" rel="tag">Baghdad</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/egypt/" rel="tag">Egypt</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irin/" rel="tag">IRIN</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/militias/" rel="tag">Militias</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/music/" rel="tag">music</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugees/" rel="tag">Refugees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/violence/" rel="tag">violence</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>Samer (not his real name) is a professional violinist in his twenties from Baghdad. Last year, he fled the violence in the city to Syria, only to return nine months later, despite the dangers. </p> <p>“Though the situation in Iraq is terrible for all Iraqis, the appearance of religious militias after the invasion in 2003 has made things especially difficult for musicians,” Samer told IRIN in a telephone interview. He explained that extremist militias, which had no presence in Baghdad prior to the start of the war, frequently target Iraqis involved in the arts; they consider music in particular as forbidden. “I continue to practice, study and perform, but just to be safe I carry my violin in a black plastic bag so no one recognizes it,” Samer said. </p> <p>Last year, he had enough and decided to leave Iraq. “After travelling in and out of Iraq several times, including to Egypt, I decided to go to Syria, where I continued to study, in the hope that I could lead a safer life there. In Baghdad, things are very difficult for us all, and the threat of death is everywhere.” </p> <p>But he was deeply unhappy in Syria. “I love Iraq so much, and my love is what gives me inspiration to play music. Leaving Iraq made me lose my inspiration to play, and therefore my reason for being. My life is here, and my decision to stay and to continue being a musician is my personal way of resisting the destruction that is being inflicted on my country.” </p> <p>Unlike the majority of returning refugees who are unable to meet their most basic needs, Samer does not regret his decision to go home. </p> <p>“What I do wish for, however, is the right to travel, to take my music to other countries and to share our culture with other people,” he said. “But, as you know, it is extremely hard for an Iraqi to get a visa for most countries. I wish this would change, because we have so much to share, including a rich, ancient culture, and such love for the arts.”</p> <blockquote> </blockquote> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=90897" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN Middle East | IRAQ: "My life is here" | Iraq | Refugees/IDPs | Security</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-11525"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/09/30/irin-global-refugees-unhcr-concerned-over-iraqi-deportations-global-iraq-refugeesidps/#respond" title="Comment on UNHCR concerned over Iraqi deportations">No Comments</a></span> Posted on September 30th, 2010 by Suheila Jamil</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/09/30/irin-global-refugees-unhcr-concerned-over-iraqi-deportations-global-iraq-refugeesidps/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to UNHCR concerned over Iraqi deportations">UNHCR concerned over Iraqi deportations</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/english-articles/" title="View all posts in English Language Articles" rel="category tag">English Language Articles</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/human-rights/" title="View all posts in Human Rights" rel="category tag">Human Rights</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/anbar/" rel="tag">Anbar</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/asylum/" rel="tag">asylum</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/asylum-applicants/" rel="tag">asylum applicants</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/asylum-applications/" rel="tag">asylum applications</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/asylum-seekers/" rel="tag">Asylum seekers</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/basra/" rel="tag">Basra</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/border-security/" rel="tag">Border Security</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/british-government/" rel="tag">british government</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/children/" rel="tag">Children</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/dahuk/" rel="tag">Dahuk</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/deportations/" rel="tag">deportations</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/diyala/" rel="tag">Diyala</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/erbil/" rel="tag">Erbil</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/europe/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/european-union/" rel="tag">european union</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/forced-returns-of-refugees/" rel="tag">Forced returns of refugees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/forced-returns-of-refugeesidps/" rel="tag">Forced returns of refugees/IDPs</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/human-rights/" rel="tag">Human Rights</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/human-rights-violations/" rel="tag">human rights violations</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/iraqi-refugees/" rel="tag">iraqi refugees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irin/" rel="tag">IRIN</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/jordan/" rel="tag">Jordan</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/kurdistan/" rel="tag">Kurdistan</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/muthanna/" rel="tag">Muthanna</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/najaf/" rel="tag">Najaf</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/netherlands/" rel="tag">Netherlands</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/ninawa/" rel="tag">Ninawa</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/ninewa/" rel="tag">Ninewa</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/norway/" rel="tag">Norway</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugee-agency/" rel="tag">refugee agency</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugees/" rel="tag">Refugees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/returnees/" rel="tag">returnees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/salah-al-din/" rel="tag">Salah al-Din</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sulaymaniyah/" rel="tag">Sulaymaniyah</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sweden/" rel="tag">Sweden</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/switzerland/" rel="tag">Switzerland</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/unhcr/" rel="tag">UNHCR</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>LONDON, 29 September 2010 (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=90616" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN</a>) – The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed concern about the growing number of deportations of Iraqi asylum-seekers from Western Europe in the last two months. <p>Special charter flights to take failed asylum-seekers home have increased in frequency, and Iraqis are being returned to parts of the country which are still unsafe, in contravention of UNHCR guidelines for the handling of Iraqi asylum applications, it says. </p> <p>The deportations are handled by Frontex, a Warsaw-based agency set up to coordinate operations between European Union (EU) member states in the field of border security, and their planes can carry returnees from several different countries. The most recent (on 22 September) had failed asylum applicants from Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and the UK. </p> <p>One of the UNHCR’s complaints is that the information provided by those countries is usually sketchy, varies from country to country and is given only very late in the process. In the case of last week’s flight, Sweden told the UNHCR the names and dates of birth of those being sent home, but not their destinations. The UK provided details of where its rejected claimants were going but not their identities. </p> <p>No country told the UNHCR how many of the passengers being put on board the plane were going home voluntarily, and how many were being deported against their will, but reports from Baghdad say police had to be called to escort some of them off the plane. </p> <p>A spokesperson for the UNHCR, Sybella Wilkes, called for states sending home asylum-seekers to be more transparent. “We are aware when a flight is leaving,” she told IRIN, “but we don’t know until the last minute who is on board or which countries they are coming from.” </p> <p>The organization does not oppose people being sent back to Iraq in every case. “It’s possible that some people on the plane were going back voluntarily,” Wilkes said. “It’s possible that some were going to areas where we don’t have issues about security. But we don’t know. Having full information would be in everybody’s best interests.” </p> <p>What they do know is that among the passengers leaving Sweden were two women and four children. The British government said all those it was sending last week were single adult males, but their destinations included Baghdad, Ninawa, Kirkuk and Salah ad-Din – all areas the UNHCR considers unsafe. </p> <p><strong>Five governorates unsafe</strong> </p> <p>“We are very clear in our guidelines,” said Sybella Wilkes. “Baghdad, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninawa and Salah ad-Din are still not safe, in view of serious human rights violations and continuing security incidents in those areas. We specifically ask governments not to return people to those five governorates, and we are disappointed they are ignoring our guidelines.” </p> <p>The general secretary of the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees, Dashty Jamal, blamed the rise in forced removals on the electoral success of right wing parties in a number of European countries. He told IRIN: “Most of the EU countries’ right-wing parties have united together to change their immigration policy, and deport back all Iraqis who apply for asylum in their country.” </p> <p>He said that as well as the charter flights run by Frontex, individual refugees are being sent back almost every night on scheduled flights to Jordan. “I believe that no part of Iraq is safe, even Kurdistan. It is like the UN saying that Berne in Switzerland is safe but Zurich is not safe. This is not the time to send people back. They are playing with the lives of innocent people.” </p> <p>Contacted by IRIN, the UK’s border agency denied there had been any overall policy recently to deport more Iraqi asylum-seekers. Detailed figures of deportations over the past two months are not yet available, but a spokesperson insisted that every case is looked at individually and considered on its merits. “We only ever return those whom the Border Agency and the courts are satisfied are not in need of our protection, and who have failed to comply with a request to leave.” </p> <p>Are the Agency and the courts ignoring the UNHCR guidelines on safe and unsafe areas? “A whole range of factors are taken into account,” the spokesperson told IRIN. “And from the UK’s point of view we have to be satisfied that they don’t need our protection.” </p> <p>The UNHCR has been lobbying since June against the forced removals to Iraq, but says so far they have not seen any shift in position by Western European governments. Sybella Wilkes says she is disappointed. “I would like them to consider that they have a minority of Iraqi asylum-seekers in their countries. And this is not a very positive example when Iraq’s neighbours have much greater numbers, and have been much more generous and welcoming.” </p> <p>Dashty Jamal told IRIN on 28 September that a number of Iraqis in the UK had received tickets for a flight back to Iraq on 6 October, and that a demonstration was being planned that day outside the Iraqi embassy in London to protest at the way returnees are treated when they get to Baghdad.<br/> <table style="margin: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid" bordercolor="#cccccc" height="410" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" width="693" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="font-weight: bold; background-color: silver; text-align: center" colspan="15"><font face="Arial">Refugee Returns September 2009 – August 2010 (Individuals)</font></td> </tr> <tr style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center"> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">Governorate <p>of Return</p> <p> </font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">Sep-09</font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">Oct-09</font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">Nov-09</font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">Dec-09</font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">Jan-10</font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">Feb-10</font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">Mar-10</font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">Apr-10</font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">May-10</font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">Jun-10</font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">Jul-10</font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom"><font face="Arial">Aug-10</font></td> <td style="vertical-align: bottom" colspan="2"><font face="Arial">Total September <p>2009 – August 2010</p> <p> </font></td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: gainsboro; text-align: right"> <td><font face="Arial"><strong>Anbar</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Babylon</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">90</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">80</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">60</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">110</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">60</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">730</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">3%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: gainsboro; text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Baghdad</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">830</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">1,700</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">1,130</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">1,080</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">860</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">780</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">720</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">780</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">780</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">870</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">570</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">890</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10,990</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Basrah</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">230</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">100</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">640</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: gainsboro; text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Dahuk</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">90</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">160</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">1%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Qadissyah</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">80</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">70</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">440</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">410</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">480</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">440</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">510</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">330</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">270</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">100</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">3,190</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">12%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: gainsboro; text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Diyala</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">130</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">230</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">220</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">160</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">170</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">120</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">70</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">60</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">100</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">80</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">70</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">100</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">1,510</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">6%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Erbil</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">90</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">300</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">320</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">80</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">110</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">1,080</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">4%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: gainsboro; text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Kerbala</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">80</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">150</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">130</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">130</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">60</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">160</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">120</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">170</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">160</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">120</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">100</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">160</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">1,540</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">6%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Kirkuk</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">60</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">100</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">520</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: gainsboro; text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Missan</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">110</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">60</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">530</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">430</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">140</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">1,380</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">5%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Muthanna</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">60</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">60</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">140</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">160</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">710</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">3%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: gainsboro; text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Najaf</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">70</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">80</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">130</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">210</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">190</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">240</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">120</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">70</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">100</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">80</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">130</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">1,460</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">5%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Ninewa</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">130</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: gainsboro; text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Salah al-Din</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">60</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">110</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">60</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">530</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Sulaymaniyah</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">110</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">0%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: gainsboro; text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Thi-Qar</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">90</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">90</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">170</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">200</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">260</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">240</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">260</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">230</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">210</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">240</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">200</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">80</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2,270</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">8%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Wassit</strong></font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">50</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">90</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">10</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">30</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">20</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">40</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">70</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">460</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2%</font></td> </tr> <tr style="font-weight: bold; text-align: right"> <td style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial">TOTAL</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">1,650</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">3,000</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2,300</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2,240</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2,820</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2,160</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2,450</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2,130</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2,610</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">2,480</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">1,740</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">1,850</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">27,430</font></td> <td><font face="Arial">100%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 9px" colspan="15"><font face="Arial"><em>Data source: MoDM, DDM, City Councils Baghdad, Diyala. All data has been collected inside Iraq. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10</em>.</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Source: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=90616" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN Global | REFUGEES: UNHCR concerned over Iraqi deportations | Global | Iraq | Refugees/IDPs</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-11425"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/09/07/syria-iraqi-refugee-children-dropping-out-of-school/#respond" title="Comment on SYRIA: Iraqi refugee children dropping out of school">No Comments</a></span> Posted on September 7th, 2010 by Nur Hussein Ghazali</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/09/07/syria-iraqi-refugee-children-dropping-out-of-school/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to SYRIA: Iraqi refugee children dropping out of school">SYRIA: Iraqi refugee children dropping out of school</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/children/" title="View all posts in Children" rel="category tag">Children</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/english-articles/" title="View all posts in English Language Articles" rel="category tag">English Language Articles</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/women/" title="View all posts in Women and Children" rel="category tag">Women and Children</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/child-poverty/" rel="tag">Child Poverty</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/children/" rel="tag">Children</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/damascus/" rel="tag">Damascus</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/dropping-out-of-school/" rel="tag">dropping out of school</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/elizabeth-campbell/" rel="tag">elizabeth campbell</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/english-language-articles/" rel="tag">English Language Articles</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/financial-stress/" rel="tag">financial stress</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/iraqi-children/" rel="tag">iraqi children</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/iraqi-refugees/" rel="tag">iraqi refugees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irin/" rel="tag">IRIN</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/public-education-system/" rel="tag">public education system</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugee-agency/" rel="tag">refugee agency</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugee-children/" rel="tag">refugee children</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugee-population/" rel="tag">refugee population</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugees/" rel="tag">Refugees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/refugees-international/" rel="tag">Refugees International</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/remittances/" rel="tag">remittances</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/resettlement/" rel="tag">resettlement</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sectarian-violence/" rel="tag">sectarian violence</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/syria/" rel="tag">Syria</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/unhcr/" rel="tag">UNHCR</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/unicef/" rel="tag">UNICEF</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>DAMASCUS, 7 September 2010 (<a title="IRIN" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=90412" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN</a>) – Iraqi refugee children in Syria are struggling to keep up at school, or are dropping out to seek paid work, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). <br/>“Education is absolutely central to the future of all children. Having a generation not equipped to participate in the economy of their country serves no one,” said Sherazade Boualia, UNICEF head in Syria. </p> <p>Syria, which took in up to 1.2 million of the two million refugees who fled sectarian violence in the wake of the 2003 war in Iraq, opened its public education system to the refugees, but many are unable to benefit. </p> <p>Children often <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=87418" class="external" target="_blank">work</a> to bring in extra income for their families. Iraqis are not legally allowed to work in Syria and black market jobs often pay just 100 SYP (US$2) per day, according to the refugees. </p> <p>Hussein Ali, 16, said he had to drop out of school to earn money cleaning in a hotel. “We are very grateful for the cash assistance from the UNHCR [UN Refugee Agency],” said Mr Ali, his father, who has a disability which prevents him from working. “But it is not enough.” </p> <p>Others have to travel too far to get to a school with available places, or cannot afford the nominal fees. “Most of the Iraqi refugee population is concentrated in and around Damascus where schools’ capacity is already stretched,” said Boualia. </p> <p>The refugees’ plight is getting worse as remittances are drying up and savings running out, said US NGO Refugees International. </p> <p>Over the last three years the number of Iraqi refugee children dropping out of school has risen steadily, according to UNICEF. </p> <p>Government figures indicate that 49,132 Iraqi refugees were enrolled in the 2007-2008 school year, but this dropped to 32,425 in 2008-2009. Refugees International said the number had dropped further this year, with 30 percent fewer children enrolled. </p> <p>"The decline is linked to families experiencing more financial stress as well as resettlement to third countries and returns to Iraq," said Boualia. </p> <p>Anecdotal evidence suggests most of those dropping out are male, with families keeping girls in school. </p> <p>Teachers say Iraqi children are falling behind at school due to emotional problems, gaps in their education, or difficulties adjusting to their new situation in Syria. </p> <h3>Action </h3> </p> <p>In coordination with the Syrian government, UNICEF is attempting to tackle the problem with a US$6 million project, which includes improving facilities at schools with a high proportion of refugees, remedial classes for children who have fallen behind, and vocational evening classes for those working. </p> <p>UNICEF is also training teachers in the psycho-social needs of Iraqis which may be preventing them from concentrating. “The majority of Iraqis have at least one family member that suffers from extreme depression," said Elizabeth Campbell, senior official at Refugees International. Many of those are children. UNHCR says 150 Iraqis are referred for counselling every month. </p> <p>Refugee registration data shows most Iraqi refugee adults living in Syria are educated and value education for their children. But experts say solutions must be found or children will continue to drop out of school. </p> <p>“The needs of the whole family must be met to ensure children attend school,” said Campbell. </p> <p>Experts say providing families with financial assistance contingent upon their children enrolling in school, or providing hot meals at schools, might be one way forward.</p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=90412" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN Middle East | SYRIA: Iraqi refugee children dropping out of school | Middle East | Syria | Children Education Refugees/IDPs | Feature</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-11358"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/07/14/iraq-seeping-sewage-hits-fallujah-residents-health/#respond" title="Comment on IRAQ: Seeping sewage hits Fallujah residents’ health">No Comments</a></span> Posted on July 14th, 2010 by Um Thalit</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/07/14/iraq-seeping-sewage-hits-fallujah-residents-health/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to IRAQ: Seeping sewage hits Fallujah residents’ health">IRAQ: Seeping sewage hits Fallujah residents’ health</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/english-articles/" title="View all posts in English Language Articles" rel="category tag">English Language Articles</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/health-crisis-iraq/" title="View all posts in Health" rel="category tag">Health</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/anbar/" rel="tag">Anbar</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/baghdad/" 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<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/infrastructure/" rel="tag">infrastructure</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/invasion/" rel="tag">invasion</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/invasion-of-iraq/" rel="tag">invasion of iraq</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irin/" rel="tag">IRIN</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/ngos/" rel="tag">NGOs</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/nutrition/" rel="tag">nutrition</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/river-euphrates/" rel="tag">river euphrates</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sanitation/" rel="tag">sanitation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/septic-tanks/" rel="tag">septic tanks</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sewage/" rel="tag">sewage</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tuberculosis/" rel="tag">Tuberculosis</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/typhoid/" rel="tag">Typhoid</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water/" rel="tag">Water</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-borne-disease/" rel="tag">Water Borne Disease</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-crisis-iraq/" rel="tag">Water Crisis (Iraq)</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-supplies/" rel="tag">water supplies</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%af%d8%b1%d9%86/" rel="tag">التدرن</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>BAGHDAD, 14 July 2010 (<a title="IRIN" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89829" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN</a>) – The city of Fallujah, about 60km west of Baghdad, still has no functioning sewage system: Waste pours onto the streets and seeps into drinking water supplies. </p> <p>The city’s infrastructure was in ruins after two fierce battles between US forces and Sunni militants in 2004. In a bid to garner local support for the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, US officials pledged to build a sewage treatment plant at a cost of US$35 million. </p> <p>Work began in July 2004 and was supposed to be completed in 18 months, but continuing violence, design changes and the replacement of incompetent contractors delayed the project and costs ballooned to over $100 million. </p> <p>Six years on and with US forces preparing to withdraw from Iraq next month, not a single house is connected to the system. The US army has decided to hand over the partially finished project to a local contractor with the promise of providing the necessary funding to complete it. </p> <p>"The project is in its final stages and is expected to be handed over by the end of this year," Sheikh Hameed al-Alwan, head of Fallujah local council, told IRIN. "But unfortunately the plant will work only partially as its backbone, which is the main pipeline that sends all the waste to the main processing unit, will not be constructed because of the lack of funds." </p> <p>Without this vital pipeline, the plant will serve only a fraction of the city’s 580,000 residents, al-Alwan said, adding that the worst affected would be those in suburban areas. “Our only hope is that the Americans can secure the money to complete it, especially after the Iraqi government has said it does not have enough to allocate to it.” </p> <h3>Foul smells </h3> <p>Foul-smelling sewage has run through the rutted and pockmarked streets of Fallujah for more than three years. Residents currently depend on underground septic tanks which are in many cases leaking waste onto the streets from where it eventually ends up in the River Euphrates, a main drinking water source for Fallujah and other downstream cities. </p> <p>Abdul-Sattar Kadhum al-Nawaf, director of Fallujah general hospital, said the sewage problem had taken its toll on residents’ health. They were increasingly affected by diarrhoea, tuberculosis, typhoid and other communicable diseases. </p> <p>Al-Nawaf said that although he did not have specific numbers, 10-15 percent of patients at his hospital had water or sewage-related diseases. </p> <p>Experts say the Fallujah plant is just one of many abandoned, incomplete or hastily finished projects around the country. </p> <p>Anbar-based analyst Khudhair Jassim Ali, who lectures at the university, said that a lack of funds, corruption and a lack of cooperation between the government and companies working on projects have delayed badly needed infrastructure projects. </p> <p>"The government should follow up with these projects to take over from those parties that will leave Iraq, whether US forces or NGOs. It should fill the gap.”</p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89829" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN Middle East | IRAQ: Seeping sewage hits Fallujah residents’ health | Middle East | Iraq | Health & Nutrition Water & Sanitation | News Item</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-11187"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/06/29/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%82-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d8%aa%d9%84-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a3%d8%ac%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%87/#respond" title="Comment on العراق: القتل من أجل المياه">No Comments</a></span> Posted on June 29th, 2010 by Nabil</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/06/29/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%82-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d8%aa%d9%84-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a3%d8%ac%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%87/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to العراق: القتل من أجل المياه">العراق: القتل من أجل المياه</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/features/" title="View all posts in Features" rel="category tag">Features</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/iraq/" title="View all posts in News" rel="category tag">News</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/abu-ghraib/" rel="tag">Abu Ghraib</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agricultural-land/" rel="tag">agricultural land</a>, <a 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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-levels/" rel="tag">water levels</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-pumps/" rel="tag">water pumps</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-supplies/" rel="tag">water supplies</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/west-baghdad/" rel="tag">west Baghdad</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/who/" rel="tag">WHO</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <div dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>في الساعات الأولى من صباح 18 يونيو، اقتحم مسلحون منزل فيصل حسن في غرب بغداد وقتلوه وزوجته وطفليهما الصغيرين. ولكن لم يكن الدافع وراء هذه الجريمة طائفياً أو سياسياً أو حتى اقتصادياً، بل كان مرتبطاً بالمياه. <br/>فقد كان حسن البالغ من العمر أربعين عاماً موظفاً في دائرة الري المحلية في مدينة أبو غريب، الواقعة على بعد 32 كيلومتراً من بغداد والتي اشتهرت في الآونة الأخيرة بالفضائح المرتبطة بالسجن المقام على أرضها. وكان القسم الذي يعمل فيه حسن يشرف على توزيع الحكومة للمياه على الأراضي الزراعية داخل مدينة أبو غريب ومحيطها.</p> <p>وحسب محقق الشرطة، محمد خضير، رفع مقتل حسن عدد العاملين في قسم الري الذين تعرضوا للقتل في هذه المدينة إلى ثلاثة خلال الأشهر الثلاثة الماضية. وعلق خضير على ذلك بقوله: "لم يكن لأي من هؤلاء علاقة بالسياسة أو الأنشطة المعادية للمتشددين ولكنهم كانوا بدل ذلك ضحايا لطبيعة عملهم التي أصبحت محفوفة بالمخاطر". <br/><strong>خطر المواجهات المحلية </strong> <br/>وتتمتع القبائل والعشائر التقليدية في المناطق الريفية في العراق بسلطة كبيرة، إذ عادة ما تحصل من أعضائها على ولاء أقوى مما يقدمونه للحكومة الوطنية. وقد دخلت هذه العشائر في الماضي في اشتباكات حول الأراضي وموارد المياه ولكن مع غياب حكومة قوية منذ عام 2003 وانخفاض إمدادات المياه خلال السنوات الأخيرة، يرى بعض المحللين أن الخلافات المحلية المرتبطة بالمياه في ازدياد وأصبحت تنذر بخطر حدوث نزاعات مسلحة. </p> <p>وعلق جعفر محمد علي، وهو محلل بكربلاء على ذلك بقوله: "لا نملك اليوم حكومة تعمل بشكل كامل لأنها منشغلة كلياً بالحالة الأمنية والخلافات السياسية، ولذلك لا تلعب دوراً قوياً في ردع أي خلاف محتمل واسع النطاق. كما نعاني أيضاً من نقص حاد في المياه على الصعيد الوطني ومن وضع اقتصادي سيء للغاية يجعل من الصعب جداً على المزارعين القيام بأعمال أخرى". <br/>من جهته، أفاد علي اسماعيل الزبيدي، أحد شيوخ القبائل في محافظة الديوانية الواقعة على بعد حوالي 200 كلم إلى الجنوب من بغداد، أن قبيلته أجرت "مفاوضات صعبة" بشأن حصص المياه مع قبيلة أخرى مجاورة. وأضاف قائلاً: "نحن نعاني من مشاكل يومية فيما يخص المياه، فهم يستعملون مضخات مياه كهربائية ضخمة لشفط المياه ولا يتركون لنا سوى قطرات فقط. كما أن المسؤولين في الحكومة عاجزون عن تنظيم الري ووقف أولئك الذين ينتهكون اللوائح الخاصة به إما بسبب الفساد أو لأنهم يخشون على حياتهم. لذا يتعين علينا حل هذه المشكلة بأنفسنا". وأوضح أنه بحاجة لعقد المزيد من الاجتماعات مع شيوخ هذه القبيلة لحل النزاع حول المياه "ولكن هذا لا يعني أنه بإمكاننا الانتظار طويلاً، بل سنتصرف بسرعة لتأمين المياه التي نحتاجها لأرضنا حتى لو توجب علينا حمل السلاح". <br/><strong>أمة تفتقر للمياه</strong> <br/>وكان العراق تاريخياً واحداً من الدول الأكثر خصوبة في المنطقة بفضل نهري دجلة والفرات اللذين يتدفقان باتجاه الجنوب الشرقي عبر البلاد بأسرها. وكان شريطاً أخضراً من الأراضي الخصبة يمتد عبر وسط البلاد تغذيه مياه النهرين. غير أن مستويات المياه في دجلة والفرات انخفضت بشكل مطرد في السنوات الأخيرة بسبب قلة هطول الأمطار وبناء السدود على الأنهار في تركيا وسوريا. </p> <p>بالإضافة إلى ذلك، تعرض القطاع الزراعي في البلاد للشلل بسبب عقود من الحرب وانعدام الأمن وقلة الاستثمارات وقطع الأشجار من دون رادع لاستخدامها كحطب للوقود، مما زاد من ملوحة التربة وتسبب في تعرض بعض المناطق للتصحر. وقد تحولت مساحات كبيرة من الأراضي الزراعية التي كانت خصبة فيما قبل إلى صحراء شبه قاحلة أخذت تسبب عدداً متزايداً من العواصف الرملية في ظل ذبول النباتات المثبتة للتربة. <br/>وقد قامت الحكومة، استجابة لذلك، بتبني تدابير لتنظيم كمية المياه المستخدمة للري في كل محافظة ولكنها واجهت صعوبات في تنفيذها. وقال مهدي القيسي، وكيل وزارة الزراعة، لشبكة الأنباء الإنسانية (إيرين) أن "المزارعين لم يلتزموا بلوائح توزيع المياه. ونحن ننصحهم باتباع هذه اللوائح هذا العام لأننا لا نستطيع ضمان كمية المياه التي ستتوفر لدينا". </p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://arabic.irinnews.org/ReportArabic.aspx?SID=2083" class="external" target="_blank">العراق: القتل من أجل المياه-العراق-بيئة-نزاع-المياه والصرف الصحي</a></p> </p></div> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-11115"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/06/24/killing-for-water/#respond" title="Comment on Killing for water">No Comments</a></span> Posted on June 24th, 2010 by Khaled</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/06/24/killing-for-water/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Killing for water">Killing for water</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a 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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irrigation-department/" rel="tag">irrigation department</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/land-resources/" rel="tag">land resources</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/rainfall/" rel="tag">rainfall</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/resources/" rel="tag">Resources</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/rural-areas/" rel="tag">rural areas</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/salinity/" rel="tag">salinity</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sandstorms/" rel="tag">sandstorms</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sanitation/" rel="tag">sanitation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/security-situation/" rel="tag">security situation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/shortage-of-water/" rel="tag">shortage of water</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/soil-salinity/" rel="tag">soil salinity</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/syria/" rel="tag">Syria</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tigris-and-euphrates/" rel="tag">tigris and euphrates</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tigris-and-euphrates-rivers/" rel="tag">tigris and euphrates rivers</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/traditional-tribes/" rel="tag">traditional tribes</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/turkey/" rel="tag">Turkey</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/underinvestment/" rel="tag">underinvestment</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water/" rel="tag">Water</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-distribution/" rel="tag">water distribution</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-level/" rel="tag">water level</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-levels/" rel="tag">water levels</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-pumps/" rel="tag">water pumps</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-supplies/" rel="tag">water supplies</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/west-baghdad/" rel="tag">west Baghdad</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/who/" rel="tag">WHO</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>BAGHDAD, 23 June 2010 (<a title="IRIN" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=89586" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN</a>) – In the early hours of 18 June, gunmen broke into Faisal Hassan’s west Baghdad home killing him, his wife and their two young children. The motive was not sectarian, political or even economic – but water-related. <br/>Forty-year-old Hasan was an employee of a local irrigation department in Abu Ghraib city – 32km west of Baghdad and famed in recent times for scandals surrounding its prison. <br/>The department he worked for supervised government water distribution to farmland in and around Abu Ghraib. His death brings the number of irrigation department employees killed in this city to three in the past three months, Mohammed Khudhair, a police investigator, said. <br/>“All these employees had nothing to do with politics or anti-militant activities, but instead were victims of the nature of their work, which has become a risky one,” he said. </p> <p><strong>Risk of local feuds </strong></p> <p>In Iraq’s rural areas, traditional tribes and clans hold much sway and often attract stronger loyalty from members than the national government. Clans have clashed in the past over land resources and water, but with the absence of a strong government since 2003 and the decline in water supplies in recent years, analysts say local water feuds are on the rise and risk becoming armed conflicts.</p> <div style="padding-right: 5px; padding-left: 5px; float: right; padding-bottom: 5px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; width: 360px; padding-top: 5px"> <div class="container"> <div class="shadow"> <div class="frame"> <p>Government officials can’t control the regulation of irrigation and stop those who violate their regulations either because of corruption or because they fear for their lives. So we have to solve this issue ourselves.</p> </p></div> <p> </div> </p></div> </p></div> <p>“Today, we don’t have a fully functioning government as it is totally preoccupied by the security situation and political wrangling so we don’t have a strong role to deter any possible widespread conflict,” Karbala-based analyst Jaafar Moahmmed Ali said. “Besides, we have an acute shortage of water nationwide and a very bad economic situation that makes it very hard for farmers to do other work.” <br/>Tribal sheikh Ali Ismael al-Zubaidi from Diwaniya Governorate, about 200km south of Baghdad, said he had been having “tough negotiations” over water allocations with another tribe that lives upstream from his. <br/>“We have daily problems with water. They are siphoning water with huge electric water pumps and leave only drops for us,” al-Zubaidi said. “Government officials can’t control the regulation of irrigation and stop those who violate their regulations either because of corruption or because they fear for their lives. So we have to solve this issue ourselves.” <br/>Al-Zubaidi said he needed to hold more meetings with the upstream tribe to resolve the water dispute “but that doesn’t mean that we can wait a long time. We will act swiftly to secure the water we need for our land even if we have to take up weapons.” </p> <p><strong>Water-scarce nation </strong></p> <p>Historically, Iraq has been one of the more fertile nations in the region, thanks largely to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which flow southeasterly through the entire nation. There used to be a thick, green ribbon of fertile land snaking through the middle of the country, fed by the two rivers. <br/>However, in recent years water levels in the Euphrates and Tigris <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=86222" class="external" target="_blank">have steadily fallen</a> due to below-average rainfall and the construction of dams on the rivers in neighbouring Turkey and Syria. <br/>In addition, the country’s agricultural sector has been paralysed by decades of war and insecurity, underinvestment and the unchecked felling of trees for firewood, which has increased <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=85987" class="external" target="_blank">soil salinity</a> and caused desertification in some areas. Large tracts of once fertile agricultural land have been transformed into semi-arid desert and are causing an increasing number of sandstorms as soil-binding plants shrivel up. <br/>In response, the government has adopted measures to regulate the amount of water being used for irrigation in each province but has faced difficulties implementing them. <br/>“The farmers didn’t adhere to the water distribution regulations. We advise them to follow the regulations this year because we cannot guarantee the amount of water we’ll have,” Mahdi al-Qaisi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, told IRIN. </p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=89586" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN Middle East | IRAQ: Killing for water | Middle East | Iraq | Environment Conflict Water & Sanitation | News Item</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-11113"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/06/24/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%82-%d9%83%d9%8a%d9%81-%d9%86%d9%86%d9%82%d8%b0-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d8%b7%d9%81%d8%a7%d9%84-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a8%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%ab%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%aa%d8%b7/#respond" title="Comment on العراق: كيف ننقذ الأطفال من براثن المتطرفين؟-العراق-طفولة-نزاع">No Comments</a></span> Posted on June 24th, 2010 by Khaled</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/06/24/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%82-%d9%83%d9%8a%d9%81-%d9%86%d9%86%d9%82%d8%b0-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d8%b7%d9%81%d8%a7%d9%84-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a8%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%ab%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%aa%d8%b7/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to العراق: كيف ننقذ الأطفال من براثن المتطرفين؟-العراق-طفولة-نزاع">العراق: كيف ننقذ الأطفال من براثن المتطرفين؟-العراق-طفولة-نزاع</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/features/" title="View all posts in Features" rel="category tag">Features</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/category/religion/" title="View all posts in Religion" rel="category tag">Religion</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/al-amal/" rel="tag">Al-Amal</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/al-amil/" rel="tag">al-Amil</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/amil/" rel="tag">Amil</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/bala/" rel="tag">Bala</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/bombings/" rel="tag">Bombings</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/children/" rel="tag">Children</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/detention-facilities/" rel="tag">detention facilities</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/education/" rel="tag">Education</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/extremists/" rel="tag">Extremists</a>, <a 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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/security-measures/" rel="tag">security measures</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/soccer/" rel="tag">Soccer</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/suicide-bombers/" rel="tag">suicide bombers</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/suicide-bombing/" rel="tag">suicide bombing</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/suicide-bombings/" rel="tag">suicide bombings</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/video/" rel="tag">video</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a5%d8%b3%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%85%e2%80%8e/" rel="tag">الإسلام‎</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/%d8%a8%d8%ba%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%af/" rel="tag">بغداد</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <div dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>كانت رسالة الشيخ هـ. م. إلى المراهقين المتجمعين حوله بعد صلاة الجمعة في أحد مساجد بغداد صريحة ومباشرة مفادها أن "الإسلام بسيط وغير معقد. إذ يجب أن يكون المسلم معتدلاً وغير متطرف ليكسب محبة الله". <br/>وأوضح رجل الدين هذا، الذي اكتفى بذكر الحروف الأولى من اسمه خوفاً من تعرضه للانتقام، أن الطريقة الوحيدة لكسب الحرب ضد الإرهاب والطائفية في العراق هي إبقاء الشباب بمنأى عن المتطرفين. <br/>ففي أواخر عام 2007، بدأ تنظيم القاعدة في العراق بتجنيد النساء لجمع المعلومات الاستخباراتية ونقل الأسلحة وتنفيذ هجمات انتحارية مما دفع السلطات لتجنيد وتدريب حارسات عند نقاط التفتيش بحثاً عن متفجرات مخبأة تحت ثياب النساء. <br/>وفي محاولة منهم لتجاوز هذه التدابير الأمنية المشددة، لجأ المتمردون السنة إلى تجنيد المراهقين لتنفيذ الهجمات باعتبارهم لا يثيرون الشبهات عند اقترابهم من نقاط التفتيش ومن القوافل. <br/>وعلق الشيخ هـ. م. على ذلك بقوله: "مع غياب البرامج الحكومية وغير الحكومية لتسخير قوة الشباب لبناء البلد، يجب أن نقوم نحن، رجال الدين، بدور كبير لتعليم الأطفال ما هو الصواب وما هو الخطأ علنا نساعد التائهين منهم في سلوك السبيل الصحيح". </p> <p><strong>"طيور الجنة" </strong></p> <p>وفي عام 2008، شكلت القاعدة تنظيم "طيور الجنة" لتجنيد الأطفال وتدريبهم لتنفيذ الهجمات على قوات الأمن والهجمات الانتحارية، وفقاً لمسؤول أمني رفيع المستوى في مجال مكافحة الإرهاب طلب عدم الكشف عن هويته. وجاء في قول المسؤول: "لا نعرف عدد هؤلاء الأطفال بالتحديد، لكننا متأكدون من أن عددهم كبير لاسيما أولئك القادمون من القرى النائية الذين يجتذبهم فكر تنظيم القاعدة. وقد استنتجنا من الاستجوابات أن جميع هؤلاء الأطفال إما فقدوا ذويهم في هجمات أو أجبروا على الانضمام للتنظيم من قبل أسرهم التي تتعاطف مع القاعدة". <br/>كما أظهرت السلطات العراقية في عام 2008 شريط فيديو تم العثور عليه أثناء غارة في شمال بغداد مجموعة من المراهقين، بعضهم لا يزيد عمره عن عشرة أعوام، يمثلون عمليات اختطاف وهمية. وأظهر الشريط هؤلاء المراهقين وهم يرتدون قمصان كرة قدم وأقنعة ويلوحون ببنادقهم ويحطمون الأبواب متظاهرين بتنفيذ هجوم وخطف أولاد آخرين. <br/>وفي مشهد من المشاهد، كان بعض الأولاد يرتدون أحزمة ناسفة ويتمرنون على كيفية إنزال رجل من على دراجته واختطافه. وفي مشهد آخر كان الأولاد يقدمون البيعة لتنظيم القاعدة في العراق. <br/>وفي شهر أبريل 2010، ألقت قوات الأمن القبض على ولد في العاشرة من عمره قبل لحظات من محاولته تفجير نفسه بحزام ناسف عند نقطة تفتيش في مدينة الفلوجة، التي تقع على بعد حوالي 660 كلم غرب العاصمة وتشكل المعقل السابق لتنظيم القاعدة في العراق. </p> <p>وكان والد الصبي مقاتلاً في تنظيم القاعدة وكنه لقي حتفه في العام السابق. وحسب الملازم أحمد صبحي، أخبر الصبي المحققين أنه بدأ عمله مع التنظيم بمساعدة المسلحين في نقل القنابل والأسلحة الصغيرة ثم اضطر بعد ذلك لتنفيذ عملية انتحارية. <br/>وأفاد مسؤول مكافحة الإرهاب أنه يتم إرسال الأطفال الذين تم إعدادهم ليكونوا انتحاريين إلى مراكز احتجاز الأحداث حيث يجري استجوابهم وإدراجهم في برامج إعادة تأهيل قبل أن إطلاق سراحهم. وأوضح أن تسعة مراهقين قاموا بتنفيذ هجمات انتحارية منذ مطلع عام 2009 وأنه تم ضبط ما يقرب من اثني عشر مراهقاً آخر قبل تنفيذ عملياتهم. </p> <p><strong>تدابير غير فعالة </strong></p> <p>وأوضح الطبيب النفسي في بغداد، أحمد خليل ناصر، أن معظم هؤلاء الأطفال يعيشون في مناطق نائية وينحدرون من أسر فقيرة وغير متعلمة، مما يجعل من الصعب جداً على العاملين في مجال الصحة أو المسؤولين العثور عليهم وتقديم أي شكل من أشكال إعادة التأهيل لهم بعد إطلاق سراحهم من سجن الأحداث. <br/>وعلق ناصر على ذلك بقوله: "أولاً، علينا أن نتأكد من أن جميع الأطفال في مثل هذه المناطق مسجلون في المدارس للحصول على التعليم المناسب حتى لا يكونوا فريسة للمتطرفين. وثانياً، لا بد من وضع برامج تستهدف أولئك الذين انضموا إلى صفوف المتمردين ومعالجتهم وفقاً للأسباب التي دفعت بهم للقيام بذلك. وفي غياب مثل هذه البرامج، سوف يظل هؤلاء الأطفال يشكلون هدفاً سهلاً لتنظيم القاعدة، كما لن يتخلى أولئك الذين تم القبض عليهم ثم أطلق سراحهم عن القتال". <br/>من جهتها، أفادت هناء إدوارد، رئيسة منظمة الأمل غير الحكومية الواقع مقرها في بغداد، أن الحكومة والمنظمات غير الحكومية تقوم بتنظيم بعض البرامج التي تهدف لإعادة تأهيل الأطفال المقاتلين ومساعدتهم على الاندماج في المجتمع ولكن فعاليتها محدودة. <br/>وأشارت إدوارد إلى أن "هناك بعض البرامج الحكومية لإعادة تأهيل هؤلاء الأطفال داخل مراكز الاحتجاز وتعليمهم المهن مثل النجارة والحدادة ولكن دور المنظمات غير الحكومية ما زال ضعيفاً بسبب القوانين التي تفرضها الحكومة على هذه المنظمات عند زيارتها للمعتقلات". </p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://arabic.irinnews.org/ReportArabic.aspx?SID=2058" class="external" target="_blank">العراق: كيف ننقذ الأطفال من براثن المتطرفين؟-العراق-طفولة-نزاع</a></p> </p></div> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="navigation"> <div class="alignleft"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irin/page/3/">« Previous Entries</a></div> <div class="alignright"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120515012607/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irin/">Next Entries »</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="sidebar" class="span-10 last"> <div class="span-10" 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