CPTnet
May 10, 2003
IRAQ UPDATE: May 10, 2003 9pm/1pm EDT
As reported to Doug Pritchard via satellite phone
Lisa Martens and Stewart Vriesinga met with Dr Janan Hassan at the Ibn
Gazwan Children's Hospital in Basrah. She was angry and frustrated at
the lack of security, "Anyone can walk in here and take what they want," she
said.
When she asked the British occupation troops for security they said, "We
are fighters. We don't provide security for anyone. We have no orders from
the U.S. to do that." She witnessed British troops "allowing and encouraging
looters."
"Before it was the sanctions. And still now, no one is thinking of the
future. Our TV promises drugs and aid. Nothing has come from the U.S. or UK,
only some from Arab countries." She is seeing a new case of childhood
leukemia every day along with severe diarrhoea and now cholera. She does not
allow her own children to leave the house for school because of security
concerns. "I don't believe in anyone now. Only God," she told Vriesinga and
Martens
The team met again with the Presbyterian Pastor Asturi. He reiterated the
people's concern for security and and that he prays constantly for peace.
His members have had no problems with their Shiite Muslim neighbours. In the
past relations were very friendly and many Muslims visited the church, but
there have been no visitors since the war. At the Chaldean church, the
funeral of the two murdered Christians was in progress. Afterwards,
Archbishop Kassab said, "The security situation is terrible. Everyone has
guns."
A parishioner described the rapid increase in food prices since the
war. For example, a kilo of milk has gone from 1000 to 4000 dinars, chicken
1300 to 4000, potatoes 300 to 600, and a dozen eggs went from 2100 to 4000
dinars. Most people have no money or employment.
A Muslin pedestrian stopped the team and said, "Christians and Muslims are
brothers. I live next to a Christian. We want to live well together." He
also was angry at the stories on TV about the arrival of relief supplies.
"Nothing is getting to the people."
The team visited the Baradeyah Water Treatment Plant. It is operating, and
staff said they have some supplies of chlorine. The team talked to an
Australian soldier, Lance Corporal Brian, guarding a nearby palace.
"Security
problems? Well you're going to get that, aren't you? Looting? Well you're
going to get that, aren't you? Unemployment? Well you're going
to get that, aren't you?"
Vriesinga attended a coordination meeting hosted by UN workers, which some
British soldiers also attended. Those attending reported that the refugee
population in Basrah is increasing due to bombed housing, and lack of
security in surrounding villages. The British army security official's
response was that they are bringing out a police commissioner from the UK.
Workers also stressed the need to get food and water distributed, but the
ongoing struggle between the U.N. and U.S. is hurting Iraqis. There are
sixty eight new cases of severe diarrhoea which are likely cholera, but the
source is unknown. Relief workers reiterated that the U.S. and U.K. are the
current government and need to act like one.
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