Iraq: Families begin to flee Baghdad suburb as US-led forces strike

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)

Iraq: Families begin to flee Baghdad suburb as US-led forces strike

BAGHDAD, 7 May 2007 (IRIN) - Dozens of families started to flee Sadr City, the main Shi'a district of Baghdad, on Sunday following raids by US-led forces against suspected militants.

"The raids were unexpected and, as Sadr City is a violent neighbourhood, some families are fleeing the area looking for displacement camps in the outskirts of the capital. Many of them have travelled to Najaf and Kerbala in the south," said Hussam al-Din, president of the Baghdad-based Iraqi Humanitarian Association for the Displaced (IHAD).

"Local NGOs are desperate because we cannot reach the area for security reasons and fleeing families are leaving their homes without enough money to support themselves," al-Din said.

NGOs are trying to help but say they would not be able to cope if families continue to flee the district, more so since most of the district's residents are poor, he added.



Read more: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/ACIO-72YBPE?OpenDocument

[acmavm]

1. This can't be good. Attacking Sadr City will really stir up the pot. But then,

nothing we do over there is going to work.

[bdamomma]

2. we are causing a humanitarian (refugee) crisis.

[Roland99]

3. 21st century warfare still results in the same problems as throughout history.

:(

[happydreams]

4. This is what Bushie boy wants. If he can turn the place into

an uninhabitable wasteland then only people with toxic protection suits will be able to operate in Iraq. A wasteland has its advantages: the oil can be stolen without worrying about terra'ist attacks.

Now, on to the Moon to mine that place.