The Street Orphans Of Baghdad
Thousands Of Homeless Kids Live On The Street In The War Zone, Without Shelter Or Aid
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Play CBS Video Video Baghdad's Orphaned Children Nobody knows exactly how many orphans there are roaming the streets of Baghdad. They are forced to leave school and sell incense and gum on the streets as a way to survive. Mark Strassmann reports.
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Thousands of orphans like Fahad roam the streets of Baghdad, selling trinkets and perfumes. The last time Fahad saw his parents, militiamen were taking them to their death. (CBS)
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Mushtaq, an orphan, quit school so he could sell perfumes and incense on the street of Baghdad. (CBS)
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A U.S. soldier from the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment of the Second infantry Division patrols near a child on the street. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
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"We're orphans," Fatema says.
Why don't they go to school?
"Because we need the money," she says.
Baghdad has thousands of orphans no one knows the exact number. There are too many for the eight orphanages in Iraq's capital city. Some facilities crowd 10 kids to a small bedroom.
Other than the orphanages, will anyone take these children?
"No," says Quammer al-Janni, who coordinates orphan programs for the Red Crescent, the Arab Red Cross.
The Iraqi government does little to help. In Iraqi culture, orphans are mostly scorned and seldom adopted.
They're scared. Many of them are angry and more violent than other kids.
"I think I am going to cry," Quammer says. "Because I have nothing to do for them. I have nothing to say for them."
Adults who work with orphans here are scared for them and for Iraq. They say, "Don't forget Saddam Hussein was raised as an orphan."
The last time Fahad saw his parents, militiamen were taking them to their death. A Sunni Muslim, he won't play with Shia children.
Another child Strassmann met, Ayaat, is a Shia, who says she can't live with Sunnis.
This is how it begins.
To survive, Mushtaq quit school. He learns on the street, selling perfume and gum to strangers.
In faces like his, Quammer sees Iraq's real worry its next generation of insurgents and terrorists. That's why she spends six days a week helping orphans; she saves only Saturdays for her own kids.
"There is no future for any Iraqi people. Not just for the orphan babies, for all the Iraqi people," she said. "We dont have any future."
Ask Fatema about her future. It's simply survival.
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Posted by fxy_m at 10:53 PM : May 08, 2007
Because this particular tragedy was CAUSED BY OUR ACTIONS AND BUSH WAS THE IMPETUS FOR THOSE ACTIONS. Say what you will about the situation in the world--we did not need to add more horror and affliction--we could have used our resources in our own country and looked to clean our own homes--instead we inflict carnage and leave orphans in our wake. We are a scourge on Iraq--THAT is why Bush's name is invoked and if the bible is accurate, then AMERICA WILL REAP WHAT WE HAVE SOWN.
ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS: America's illegal war of choice created a power vacuum, thousands of orphans and aided and abetted the rush to anarchy of the various factions. This tragedy too, is the fault of America, don't forget that--we are responsible for our own homeless and elderly so we did not need to create more in the world by our meddling and actions.
Posted by fxy_m at 10:53 PM : May 08, 2007
Because this particular tragedy was CAUSED BY OUR ACTIONS AND BUSH WAS THE IMPETUS FOR THOSE ACTIONS. Say what you will about the situation in the world--we did not need to add more horror and affliction--we could have used our resources in our own country and looked to clean our own homes--instead we inflict carnage and leave orphans in our wake. We are a scourge on Iraq--THAT is why Bush's name is invoked and if the bible is accurate, then AMERICA WILL REAP WHAT WE HAVE SOWN.
ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS: America's illegal war of choice created a power vacuum, thousands of orphans and aided and abetted the rush to anarchy of the various factions. This tragedy too, is the fault of America, don't forget that--we are responsible for our own homeless and elderly so we did not need to create more in the world by our meddling and actions.
Mr. President, how do you sleep at night? You and your minions are a disgrace to this country.
Mr. President, how do you sleep at night? You and your minions are a disgrace to this country.
- by middleman8 May 8, 2007 11:28 PM EDT
- THIS IS THE NUTCASE bUSH'S FAULT. HE HAS HIS OFFSPRING SHELTERED AND PROTECTED BY TAXPAYERS MONEY IN A FORIGEN COUNTRY,AND PEOPLE SAY HE IS STUPID.
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