posted November 20, 2006 08:58 PM              

11/20/2006 7:00:00 PM GMT

(AFP Photo) Iraqi children at a camp for displaced people in the holy city of Karbala

Iraq's children continue to be the main victims of the U.S. occupation.

Chaos and violence that now taint almost all of Iraq's cities and towns, and the lack of adequate health care and education; have made life of Iraqi children, caught up in war for the third time in 20 years, increasingly miserable, according to IRIN.

"I need to breath. I feel like I live in a prison. My family does not allow me to go to school and just take me when they feel it is safe. This is not an unusual thing in Iraq today," said 11-year old, Nur Sami, adding that she lives in fear after seeing many of her friends being killed over the past three years of the American occupation.

"After two of my friends were raped while returning from school, my family went crazy and [stopped me going to school] because they wanted to keep me safe, but even your family cannot always keep you safe," she added, recalling an incident when her friend, a 12-year-old girl was kidnapped along with her mother by a group of unidentified men who also raped them repeatedly for three days before killing them.

"Is that the destiny of an innocent girl in Iraq? Is that the human rights that we hear everyone taking about?" said Nur.

Lack of basic health services and good quality food are becoming another source of misery and suffering for the Iraqi children, whose life is already in danger, thanks to the chaos and political vacuum created by the occupation and the failure of the puppet Iraqi government to end spiraling violence that continues to claim scores of civilian lives everyday.

"Children are dying everyday because of a lack of essential medical support. The bad sewage system and lack of purified water, particularly in suburbs, has been a serious problem which might take years to solve," Ahmed Obeid, press officer in the Ministry of Health, said.

"Doctors are struggling to maintain the health of millions of innocent children, but the basics should be dealt with first. If the sewage and water systems are not improved, more children will die from diseases such as diarrhoea and vomiting, which are simple to cure in normal times," he added.

"My nine-year-old daughter died last month because there was no treatment in the hospital for her disease and we couldn't afford medicine. Our salary is not enough to buy [medicine and] food for my other five children," said Hania Youssef, mother of six.

"When I tell people that my lovely daughter Sarah died from diarrhoea, they are surprised as it is a simple disease to treat normally," Hania added.

Also children's right to education has been affected by the war.

The Iraqi Ministry of Education says that at least 30 percent of Iraqi children don’t go to school, out of fear of daily attacks or because their families cannot afford to send them to school.

"There is a lack of investment in education in Iraq. Schools need urgent repair, books have to be changed and teachers [who have fled] should come back to teach. This year is going to be the worst in the history of Iraq and even during the [Gulf] war the situation was better," said Khalid Samouw, an officer at the Education Ministry's analysis department.

"We do not expect a lot from this generation [of children]. For sure, good professionals will not be created because their [educational] basis is bad compared to years ago. They lack information and experience because violence has taken it from them," Samouw added.

Although the true extent of the negative impact of violence and occupation on Iraq's children is yet to emerge, the UNICEF and other humanitarian agencies have been warning against the deteriorating conditions facing children in the country since the early days of the war.

The suffering of Iraq’s population in general is unique in many ways. The country’s 1980’s war with Iran and the Gulf War in 1991 inflicted serious damage to Iraq's infrastructure. Also Iraq spent 12 difficult years under tough United Nations sanctions, even the UN Oil for Food Programme (OFFP), passed in late 1996 with the aim of alleviating the suffering of Iraqis, failed to reduce the impact of sanctions on the population.

But this war has put the lives of Iraqi civilians, specially women and children, in danger and risk the country never faced before.

posted November 21, 2006 06:47 PM            

Iraqi, U.S. Soldiers Provide Medical Aid
By Spc. C. Terrell Turner, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

CAMP TAJI, Iraq, April 20, 2006 – While the fight against enemy insurgents continues, Iraqi and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers provided medical and humanitarian relief to local nationals caught in the middle and those without means to provide care for themselves.

Army Sgt. Allen Hill, a civil affairs specialist with Company A, 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, hands out humanitarian supplies to local residents. An Iraqi translator and members of the Iraqi army assisted the soldiers during a medical operation at the Taji soccer stadium April 11. Photo by Spc. C. Terrell Turner, USA (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Iraqi soldiers secured the immediate area as the U.S. soldiers provided desperately needed care at the Taji soccer stadium April 11.

After arriving at the location, the soldiers secured the surrounding area and set security checkpoints to ensure safety and security for local nationals entering the area for treatment. MNDB soldiers then drove around broadcasting a message in Arabic to let people know about the operation and invite them to seek help.

As coalition and Iraqi medics provided care, physician assistants diagnosed problems, and dental technicians saw patients needing dental care.

"We're here to provide medical aid to local nationals, specifically the ones who live in the local Fedayeen camp," said Army Capt. Casey Coyle, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

He said the medical teams treated about 300 people. Most ailments the teams treated were skin infections and nose and chest congestion problems, Coyle said.

During the mission, civil affairs and Iraqi army personnel provided humanitarian supplies to locals after the families received medical care. "Our mission was to distribute humanitarian assistance," said Army Master Sgt. Ronnie Reece, civil affairs noncommissioned officer-in-charge of Company A, 490th Civil Affairs Battalion. "And if any of the area tribal leaders come, we engage them about economic, security and infrastructure issues."

The clothing, office supplies and soccer balls were donated by an assortment of organizations. Locals who took part in the operation were pleased about the care and assistance they received.

"I appreciate the help. I had eye trouble and back pain, and they gave me some medicine," Nehiah, a local woman, said. "Someone told us the American soldiers were here to help, and I came. God bless them."

Iraqi soldiers handed out water to those waiting in line to receive treatment and provide assurances to the people. "It's a good day. We like to help the people and give them what they need," said Barry, an Iraqi army platoon sergeant from the Nassariya area. "I think they need more stuff: some new medicines, clean water and power to live a better life. I hope that we can provide that for all the people in the future."

As much help as the people receive, there are limits on what coalition forces can provide at one time.

"This is the sixth or seventh (mission like this) we've done. It's always very positive when we do this," Reece said. "The hardest part is whenever we run out of supplies and we have to turn people away. Over the last year, we've incorporated the Iraqi army. It fosters positive relations between the Iraqi army and local nationals."

For Spc. Khalid Bouassel, heavy vehicle mechanic with Company B, 4th Support Battalion, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., the translator work he did with the local nationals felt good. "It was a good day. There were a lot of families here -- mothers, kids and pregnant women," he said. "There were a lot eye problems and infections. Some people came here for treatment from injuries from a mortar attack. It's a good idea, and I look forward to coming out to help as much as possible."
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2006/20060420_4877.html

Here is more.

October 10, 2006506th RCT Conduct Medical Operations In E. Baghdad

FOB LOYALTY, Iraq – Sgt. Tommy Padgett, battalion armorer, 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, 506th Regimental Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, from Clinton, N.Y., inflates a ball for an Iraqi child during a medical operation in the Shaab and Ur neighborhoods of east Baghdad September 30. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Paul David Ondik, 506th RCT, 101st Abn. Div.)

FOB LOYALTY, Iraq – Two Soldiers from the 506th Regimental Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, assist a man on crutches during a medical operation in the Shaab and Ur neighborhoods of east Baghdad September 30. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Paul David Ondik, 506th RCT, 101st Abn. Div.)

IA, 506th RCT conduct medical operations in east Baghdad
By Pfc. Paul David Ondik, 506th RCT PAO, 101st Abn. Div.

FOB LOYALTY, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers working together with elements of the 9th Iraqi Army Division and local Iraqi leadership, conducted a medical operation and provided humanitarian assistance to residents in the Shaab and Ur neighborhoods of east Baghdad September 30.

For the Soldiers of 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, and Troop A, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry, of the 506th Regimental Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, participating in the project, the operation was an opportunity to interact on a personnel level with the people they were deployed to help. The medical operations have provided medical screenings and treatment to more than 2,000 Iraqi patients.

“This is our fifth of a total of six operations that were planned, and they’re getting better,” said Capt. Brian Wilson, medical operations planner, 414th CA Bn. “Each time we’re seeing more patients. The Iraqi army is stepping up a little more each time.”

FOB LOYALTY, Iraq – Spc. Allison Lancewicz, military intelligence analyst, 506th Regimental Combat Team, plays ball with an Iraqi child during a medical operation in the Shaab and Ur neighborhoods of east Baghdad September 30. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Paul David Ondik, 506th RCT, 101st Abn. Div.)

“So far we’ve just been trying to get clothes together to get out to the folks who need it,” added Spc. Allison Lancewicz, a military intelligence analyst, serving with the 506th RCT. “I love working with little kids. This is the best job.”
After patients were assessed and treated by Iraqi and American personnel, they were provided an opportunity to pick up clothes and supplies for the new school year. The items were donated by concerned civilians back in the United States.

“Everybody’s excited about getting some new clothes for school,” said Wilson. “It’s the beginning of the school year, so we’re giving each parent the choice of three things per child.”
The operation is intended to serve as a template for future operations, with the Iraqi army conducting them independently of MND-B Forces.

“The idea of this is to help Iraqis learn so they can do it on their own. That is the whole point behind it,” Wilson said.
http://www.theodoresworld.net/archives/2006/10/506th_rct_conduct_medical_oper.html

Looks like some more of the good that isnt posted on the every day news. Which is sad cause then you get Threads like this one and no one knows its wrong.