A refugee from the al-Duwailiya massacres arrives at the refugee camp in Sadr city December 5th 2007. 90 people were evacuated by the Iraki Red Crescent to the refugee camp from the village which had been attacked by gunmen. The attackers killed 12 wounded 6 and kidnapped 35 residents. It took the governor, the green zone government troops, and the Americans 48 hours to turn up, to a village that had been attacked repeatedly. Once they did turn up they gave a press conference saying how wonderfully improved the security situation in the region was. The governor lives in a heavily fortified compound surrounded by security guards and green zone government troops, the compound is a few kilometres away from the village. After the previous attacks, he gave the villagers a radio swearing that if they were attacked and radioed for help he would immediately send soldiers to help them defend their village.
48 hours and a press conference.
48 hours in the fields arround their village with a gunfight still going, none of the promised soldiers, no food, no water, followed by a press conference by the local collaborators and their American overlords saying how wonderful progress was.
During that 48 hours more than 500 people were left unprotected, without food, without water, without shelter, they couldn’t return to their homes because based on previous experience they knew that those homes would be booby trapped with bombs.
48 hours and a press conference.
Who did turn up – at considerable risk to themselves were the local Red Crescent. They managed to get some food and water to the people and then managed to somehow find space in the refugee camp in Sadr City for the 90 people in most desperate need. There are still more than 400 who dare not return to their homes and are sleeping in the fields surrounding their village.
Saba Ali
“Who did show up–at considerable risk to themselves–was the local Red Crescent.” If you’re reading this and you have ANY money to spare, please consider making a donation today to the Red Crescent. You can do this online by following this link: http://www.redcross.int/en/default.asp
Perhaps you are searching for holiday gifts in this season that celebrates light in the darkness. What could be better than a donation to the International Red Cross Red Crescent in the name of someone you love? Please spread some light to those who need it. Please spread the word to those you know about the good the Red Crescent in Irak is doing.