05/19/2003

The British forces are occupying the apartments next to an old Saddam palace, which were previously lived in by guards or servants. There are also two families in the apartment-like building. They both come from Basra, the Al Kiblah Center. One family was renting a house, but had to leave because they could not afford it any longer. The husband is a war veteran from the Iranian war who has lost a kidney. He was on a veteran’s pension, but has not received any income for quite a while. No one else works in the family, but they managed to bring some household items and furniture from their old house.

The family says that they have Oil for Food rations but they are running out. They realize that there are many families who do not have food or water. They have not heard anything about an additional food distribution when their food is finished. They report to RI that many people are stealing food. In the yard, they have only one water tap that is shared amongst the families.

People here feel safe and good about the British forces being nearby. One family’s little boy, Makhmoud, was burned severely while playing with an unexploded shell in the backyard 10 days ago. They reported it and the British forces cleared the backyard of unexploded ordnance. The family says they want more medicine; they are not satisfied with Makhmoud’s care. “Since we are oil producing country, medicines should be free.” Although today is the first day of school, children were sent home and told to come back tomorrow.