CPTnet
May 14, 2003
IRAQ UPDATE: May 14, 2003, 7pm/11 am EDT
The team visited two elementary schools in the Palestine Street
neighbourhood of Baghdad. At Al-Bahara school Principal Mrs. Raach described
this weeks' unexploded ordnance problem. The school had been cleared twice
by U.S. soldiers before classes began. But on May 11 a student found thirty
pieces of unexploded bombs just outside the wall. The school was closed and
the material removed but fewer students have returned
to class. Teachers have had no pay for two months. Security is poor.
Gasoline for transport is hard to find. The power was out again, making the
40 degree Celsius heat unbearable without fans for the students. The
principal said, "We love peace. We love all people. We love foreigners. The
U.S, came to save Iraqi but we have no security. We are not poor. We have
resources.
When Europe was in the Dark Ages, Iraq had medicine and culture. Foreign TV
only shows the looters but the majority of Iraqis are not looters. We
continue to work with no pay. Before there was no cholera In Iraq but now it
is here. Our educated people have left or are selling sweets on the street
because there is still no work."
At Al Tasami school, Principal Siham Mohammed wept saying CPT was the first
NGO that had come to ask about her school's situation. She said U.S.
soldiers had removed some ordnance from the building, but looters took the
school's computers, TVs, fans, and carpets. She cleaned up the building
herself and then went to each of the twenty-nine teachers' houses, asking
them to return without pay. All agreed. There are now 830 students
attending. The team visited the computer-less computer class where teaching
could only be done on a blackboard. "The U.S. said they would arrange
everything in ten days but they have done nothing. I tell my teachers to be
faithful and honourable and to encourage the students."
The team attended the nightly U.S. military / NGO meeting. Lt. Col Everhard
said that they have 100 soldiers working on unexploded ordnance and had
cleared 200 sites. They have 700 additional sites listed in Baghdad and more
are being listed every day. Another officer, reporting on electricity
supply, said that their current goal is have power on for two hours at a
time and then off for four hours . He promised the supply would improve "by
early June."
On the way to the schools, the team only saw three gasoline stations open.
One had a line-up of 300 cars and the other two had at least 100 cars each.
The drivers say they have to wait up to sixteen hours in line for a fill-up.
Not all the gasoline is Iraqi. Some has to be imported from neighbouring
countries.
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