Friday, June 22, 2007
Orphans moved to different location, given care
Humanitarian
(AP) - The 24 boys found severely malnourished in a Baghdad orphanage have been moved to a different building in the same facility and are being properly cared for, Iraqi officials said Thursday. U.S. and Iraqi soldiers found the boys last week naked in a dark room, some tied to beds and too weak to stand once they were unbound, the military said.
The director of the girls' section of the al-Hanan orphanage said the boys had been transferred to her building.
"All necessities, such as food, clothes and medical care, have been provided for them," said Karima Dawood.
Iraqi officials and the military said the boys had been moved from the coed building last month because it was deemed inappropriate for them to live with girls.
The director of the girls' section of the al-Hanan orphanage said the boys had been transferred to her building.
"All necessities, such as food, clothes and medical care, have been provided for them," said Karima Dawood.
Iraqi officials and the military said the boys had been moved from the coed building last month because it was deemed inappropriate for them to live with girls.
They have now been returned to the original living arrangement. The U.N. Children's Fund said last month that Iraq's children are caught in a rapidly worsening tragedy and that half the estimated 4 million Iraqis who have fled their homes since the war began in 2003 are children.
Labels: Al Hanan house, Iraqi orphans
Minister Of Labor And Social Affairs orders investigation into abused Iraqi orphans
Politics, Humanitarian
(Azzaman Newspaper) - 21 JUN - Mr. Mahmoud Al Sheikh Radhi, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs started defending his ministry concerning the Al Hanan house scandal. He was wondering why the US forces raided the orphanage and showed the naked children on the satellite channels. Yesterday, during a press conference Radhi said, “I blame the Iraqi satellite channels because they participated in showing the miserable photos of Al Hanan house for the handicapped.
He confirmed “I am taking all the ethical responsibility that happened in the ministry that includes Al Hanan house and I reject any American involvement because they made this scandal. This house is one of the orphanages for male handicapped children in Shalchia in Baghdad and it was opened on the 17th of May 2007, which means it was opened 25 days before the American forces raided it. I am confirming that Al Hanan house is not for orphans but it is for mentally disabled children. I wonder why US forces raided after 2:00 AM.”
Two days ago, the American CBS network showed a broadcast of naked children of Al Hanan house. The children were thin because of the lack of food and they had been sexually abused. Radhi said “Because the house is still new, we haven’t provided electricity yet and we have coordinated with Karkh electricity department to fix this issue. About why the children were naked in the house, Al Radhi said “This is normal in every single Iraqi house when the power goes off.”
I believe the American raid was to humiliate the children. I demand to sue the soldiers that raided the house.” He did no deny that the ministry was negligent; he has ordered the Ministry’s General Inspector to open an investigation and to show the results of the investigation in public. He has accused certain unnamed groups “for creating this incident for political purposes.”
It is worthy to mention that two days ago, the Americans CBS network broadcast photos of Iraqi children. The network said that those children were orphans and handicapped. The network’s reporter, Laura Logan supported the report with photos of the miserable conditions. An American patrol found these children by coincidence the children were naked and sexually abused by unidentified people because there was not any security at the orphanage.
I believe the American raid was to humiliate the children. I demand to sue the soldiers that raided the house.” He did no deny that the ministry was negligent; he has ordered the Ministry’s General Inspector to open an investigation and to show the results of the investigation in public. He has accused certain unnamed groups “for creating this incident for political purposes.”
It is worthy to mention that two days ago, the Americans CBS network broadcast photos of Iraqi children. The network said that those children were orphans and handicapped. The network’s reporter, Laura Logan supported the report with photos of the miserable conditions. An American patrol found these children by coincidence the children were naked and sexually abused by unidentified people because there was not any security at the orphanage.
The report mentioned that there were five employees responsible for these children but instead they stole their clothes and food to sell. The US patrol found some of the employees making food in the orphanage kitchen not for the children but for themselves. An American soldier described one child’s condition, “I can count every rib on that child’s body.” All the children had diarrhea and some of them were chained to beds and others were sleeping in their excrement. The orphanage’s manager’s office was air conditioned and had nice furniture.
Labels: Al Hanan house, Iraqi orphans, Mahmoud Al Sheikh Radhi, special needs
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
