[Fwd: [Marxism] What the hell happened in Fallujah?]

[Antid Oto]

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http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=44904&SelectRegion=Middle_East&SelectCountry=IRAQ

FALLUJAH, 4 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - "It was really distressing picking up dead
bodies from destroyed homes, especially children. It is the most
depressing situation I have ever been in since the war started," Dr
Rafa'ah al-Iyssaue, director of the main hospital in Fallujah city, some
60 km west of Baghdad, told IRIN.

The hospital emergency team has recovered more than 700 bodies from
rubble where houses and shops once stood, according to al-Iyssaue.

He added that more than 550 were women and children. He said a very
small number of men were found in these places and most were elderly.

Doctors at the hospital claim that many bodies had been found in a
mutilated condition, some without legs or arms. Two babies were found at
their homes and are believed to have died from malnutrition, according
to a specialist at the hospital.

Al-Iyssaue added these numbers were only from nine neighbourhoods of the
city and that 18 others had not yet been reached, as they were waiting
for help from the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to make it easier
for them to enter.

He explained that many of the dead had been already buried by civilians
from the Garma and Amirya districts of Fallujah after approval from
US-led forces nearly three weeks ago, and those bodies had not been
counted.

IRCS officials told IRIN they needed more time to give an accurate death
toll, adding that the city was completely uninhabitable.

Ministry of Health officials told IRIN they were in the process of
investigating the number of deaths, but claimed that a very small number
of women and children were killed, contrary to what doctors in Fallujah
had said. They added they were working together with the US-led forces
to rehabilitate the health system inside the city.

Residents who have returned to their homes after waiting for hours to
enter the city found that most of their homes had been totally destroyed
by the fighting which started nearly a month ago between the US-led
forces and insurgents who are said to be under the control of Abu-Mussab
al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian terrorist wanted by the Iraqi government.

"I've been here for more than six hours and until now could not enter
the city, even after the fighting finished in our area. There is no
respect for civilians," Samirah al-Jumaili, a mother of seven, told IRIN.

The situation in Fallujah was still not clear. According to Col. Clark
Mathew, spokesman for the US Marines, night time attacks continued in
some areas of the city. US forces have informed residents not to leave
their homes after the imposed curfew of 1800 to 0600.

Mathew explained that most attacks were in areas where US troops have
bases in order to secure the city, but added that by the end of this
month the situation should be under control and that the reconstruction
of Fallujah would then begin. "We hope that very soon reconstruction of
Fallujah will start and families will feel a new life," Mathew added.

"The US troops are saying that soon Fallujah will be rebuilt. I believe
that this city won't offer a minimum of living conditions until another
year has passed. I am still searching for what they have been calling
democracy," Muhammad Kubaissy, a civilian from Fallujah, told IRIN. His
home and two shops were destroyed in the fighting.

"They came to bring us freedom, but all Iraqis are now prisoners in
their own homes," he added.

"It is impossible to live in Fallujah. There is no water, electricity or
sewage treatment. Even hospitals cannot afford the minimum of security
for all families of the city. We don't have enough medicine and you can
feel the bad smell of bodies in the air," al-Iyssaue added.

Residents of Fallujah have been asking the Iraqi government to allow
journalists and TV reporters to enter the city in order to show the
reality.

The government will only allow journalists to visit with a special
identity card, saying it is for their own safety. Many journalists have
been turned away from Fallujah after not receiving authorisation from
US-troops guarding
the city.

"We need someone here to show the reality of Fallujah. Even when some
journalists are here they are being followed by the Marines. We need
someone to help us. The world should see the real picture of Fallujah,"
Sheikh Abbas al-Zubeiny told IRIN.

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