Aug 1 2007 ''Had poverty been a man, I would have killed him.''

Dear Bruce,

 

''Had poverty been a man, I would have killed him.'' This was one of Imam Ali's adages. However, it is not only poverty that is crushing the people today in Iraq.

A friend of mine has recently reported to me that he visited a family in Najaf governorate that is living in very harsh conditions. This is an internally displaced family that escaped the scourge of sectarian violence in Baghdad. This family consists of a father, two daughters and a son; the mother is dead. The whole family is suffering from alopecia totalis (complete head-hair falling). The son and his sister are severely malnourished so much so the case that the sister, who is 6 years old, is only 6 kg. malnutrition is causing her complete loss of sight and total atrophy.

 

There is no enough food the family can find to subsist and water is full of sulphur and is not drinkable altogether. Little are those who come and feed them and it is until recently that people from Sadr office began to provide them with some food and drinkable water.

 

This is one of the many grieving stories that we witness every day in post-war Iraq. Our loved ones, relatives, friends and colleagues are being killed and intimidated every day by the militias and the criminal gangs. Doctors are being abducted, mutilated and murdered every night. University professors are leaving the country in huge numbers. Poor people are subjected to every sort of forfeiting and grievances. No one is putting an end to their suffering and they do not know who is doing what and why.

 

Eleven football players were able to bring joy to the Iraqis' hearts while armies of soldiers and politicians failed to drive away harm. A question is always raised ''why is all this happening to us?''

I am still receiving mails from my students. Their hearts are burning with pain for losing their good teachers. The universities are morphing meeting places where one can pass time. This academic deprivation is eating into the society that has already been subjected to different sorts of torment.

 

Rafed

Comments

[Evelynn T.]

The Iraq war is totally crazy and I wish it would end soon. Too many people are suffering and losing their loved ones. Its sad to hear that the 6yr. old daughter, only weighs 6kg and losing her eye sight. People really don't deserve to live like this. I wish there can be something we can all do.

[jasmine tantoco]

the iraq war is crazy so many people are dieing and for what? my fiance is in the war and everyday i pray he comes back ok. Its sad to hear how bad poverty is down there i feel so bad for the family i know they've gone through alot im glad they have finally got help. I know they are not the only family suffering there are plenty of other family that need help!