Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Abuse of Iraqi orphans
Humanitarian
(The Guardian) - Three members of staff are on the run and two security guards have been arrested after US troops uncovered horrific evidence of systemic abuse of special needs children at a state-run orphanage in central Baghdad. The scandal came to light by chance last week after members of a patrol from the 82nd Airborne Division looked over a wall and saw several children lying lifeless on the floor of a compound.
"I saw children that you could see literally every bone in their body that were so skinny, they had no energy to move, no expression," Sergeant Michael Beale told CBS News. "The kids were tied up, naked, covered in their own waste, and there were three people cooking themselves food but nothing for the kids," said Lieutenant Stephen Duperre.
Captain Benjamin Morales described his fury when he discovered the caretaker of the orphanage occupying a well-kept office and a stockroom filled with food and clothing. Instead of being given to the children, Capt Morales said the soldiers believed the supplies were being kept for sale on the black market. "I got extremely angry with the caretaker when I got there. It took every muscle in my body to restrain myself from not going after that guy," he said.
A total of 24 boys were found in the orphanage and taken to a local hospital. The prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, ordered the arrest of those responsible but the three staff, including the caretaker, disappeared before they could be apprehended, according to CBS. Coverage of the orphanage's discovery was broadcast by CBS News last night and posted on cbsnews.com.
"I saw children that you could see literally every bone in their body that were so skinny, they had no energy to move, no expression," Sergeant Michael Beale told CBS News. "The kids were tied up, naked, covered in their own waste, and there were three people cooking themselves food but nothing for the kids," said Lieutenant Stephen Duperre.
Captain Benjamin Morales described his fury when he discovered the caretaker of the orphanage occupying a well-kept office and a stockroom filled with food and clothing. Instead of being given to the children, Capt Morales said the soldiers believed the supplies were being kept for sale on the black market. "I got extremely angry with the caretaker when I got there. It took every muscle in my body to restrain myself from not going after that guy," he said.
A total of 24 boys were found in the orphanage and taken to a local hospital. The prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, ordered the arrest of those responsible but the three staff, including the caretaker, disappeared before they could be apprehended, according to CBS. Coverage of the orphanage's discovery was broadcast by CBS News last night and posted on cbsnews.com.
Labels: Baghdad, children, Iraqi orphans, Nouri Al-Maliki, orphanage, special needs
