| September 30, 2005 "Scorched Earth" In Iraq by Karen Button, insurgent49 As power outages and the violence of unremitting car bombs continue to dominate daily life in Baghdad, the BBC has reported that a female suicide bomber has killed six people outside an army recruitment center in Talafar, Iraq. Though you probably haven’t heard much about it in the news, this is the same city where a US-led offensive has displaced thousands of families in the past month, leaving them to survive in desert encampments with little food, water or medical care. The Iraqi Red Crescent has complained to the United Nations that they have not been allowed in the city of Talafar where US/Iraqi (largely comprised of Kurdish Peshmerga) forces cut water and electricity prior to staging the largest attack since Fallujah in an on-going “scorched earth” campaign in Iraq’s Sunnis regions. In a statement that defies both logic and humanitarian law, Lt. Col. Hassan al-Medan, a senior Iraqi officer in the operation and spokesperson for the Coalition forces told IRIN, “If we allow the entrance of food and medicines to the city we are just feeding the insurgents and those who are not [insurgents], and are not afraid, will ask to leave. It is not a human disaster but the prevention of it.” However, a statement from the Arab International Committee urged the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Conferences, the United Nations and all political and religious leaders to “take action to stop the military aggression against the city of Talafar and to lift the siege imposed on it.” Similar statements have been issued by Doctors for Iraq, an organisation whose members travel to areas of conflict to help with medical care. A representative from the organisation I spoke with recently had just come from the region. He told me while he is deeply worried about these families he is even more worried about those from the western region of Iraq, where he had also been. “Talafar is very close to Mosul where at least there are offices available for medical care. And some will be able to find refuge with family or friends there too. This is a terrible situation where we have been told of military forces arresting all men between 22 and 50 as they are attempting to flee. But, there is an even bigger problem in Al-Qaim.” “Al-Qaim is 300 kilometers into the desert. It is very remote, so there are very few doctors able to get there. Also, they are using the biggest bombs there. They are using 500-ton bombs! The houses are completely flattened and these operations have been since the beginning of May. I was just there and I can tell you the military are preparing for renewed operations, you can see it. They will again attack Al-Qaim, Ramadi and Rawa.” Thus, people are fleeing the area once again in an attempt to escape the inevitable violence. “There are at least 2,500 refugee families from Al-Qaim living in tents in the desert,” he says. Now, a similar situation is brewing in Samara, about 120km north of Baghdad. Hundreds of families are fleeing, following an announcement by the Ministry of Defense that Coalition forces are preparing for an offensive against “insurgents.” The governor of the province, Hamad al-Kashty, was quoted as warning that, “the government should be careful and not transform our city into another terror as happened with Fallujah and Talafar." Ferdous al-Abadi, a spokesperson for the Iraqi Red Crescent, said, "We put all our efforts to help the people who fled Talafar, another operation will just bring more injustice and pain to Iraqis. We had difficulties getting aid to Talafar as our stores were empty and another offensive will be much worse." The agency has urged the government not to continue with their planned offensive. Doctors for Iraq concur. But, the doctor tells me, adding to the situation is an ongoing medical crisis, exacerbated by chronic medical brain-drain. Three weeks ago US troops randomly killed one of Iraq’s famous cardiologists who had chosen to stay in the country after the war. Dr. Basil Hassan, from the Iraq Center of Heart Disease in Baghdad’s Medical City, was an inspiration to many other doctors who also chose to stay by his example, despite increased kidnappings for ransom. Now, many of these doctors too, are fleeing, due to the unsecured conditions. Reuters is reporting that the Iraqi Doctors’ Syndicate, a medics’ register, estimates at least 1,500 medical professionals have fled this year alone, with at least that many also leaving in 2003 and 2004. With the 15 October referendum for a new Iraq constitution fast approaching, many Iraqis believe the on-going military actions in Sunni areas is a deliberate attempt by the US/Iraqi forces to intimidate Sunnis into not voting. The proposed constitution would fail passage if at least three of the eighteen governates turn it down. Sunnis hold a majority in al-Anbar, Salah ad Din, Diyala and Ninevah. Karen Button is a freelance journalist and peace activist. She can be reached at kbutton@insurgent49.com |
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2005
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Reserved. in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership. |
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