- BAGHDAD (IRIN) - Nearly 1,500 families [about 10,000 people] have fled
the city of Ramadi, some 115km west of Baghdad, as the newly-appointed
government and US-led multinational forces vow to restore stability to
the volatile city.
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- "We're living in a war zone,"
said Thair Saad, a 45-year-old father of four who recently left Ramadi
to find shelter for his family in the capital. "What's more, we have
no electricity, potable water or even telephones. We can't live a normal
life," added Saad, who now pays the equivalent of US $300 a month
to rent a small house in Baghdad's Amiriya neighbourhood.
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- According to Hamid al-Karboli, volunteer
with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) in the western Anbar province,
residents are fed up with incessant fighting, air strikes, water scarcity
and power outages. "Most families have ended up with their relatives
in the border towns of Kubaisa, Haditha, Anna, Rawa and Heet bordering
Syria," said al-Karboli. "Others have been forced to stay in
abandoned buildings and mosques."
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- Al-Karboli went on to say that tents,
foodstuffs and other essential materials had been distributed to displaced
peoples in effected areas, and that more relief supplies had been requested
from IRCS headquarters in Baghdad. "Now, our resources depend largely
on assistance from well-to-do local residents," al-Karboli said.
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- According to IRCS officials in the capital,
the organisation is currently in the process of sending 100,000 food rations
and essential supplies to Ramadi. "Each 30kg package contains rice,
beans and milk, in addition to detergents and sanitary materials,"
said IRCS head Dr Saad Haqi. "This can supply families with five to
six members for 15 days."
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- Earlier this month, the US military noted
that it was "very concerned" about the humanitarian situation
in the beleaguered city. "The situation in Ramadi just like
in Baghdad is serious, and it's something we're paying a lot of attention
to," said Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, spokesman for the US-led Coalition
in Iraq.
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- Caldwell went on to allege that the so-called
"Al-Qaeda in Iraq" terrorist outfit was taking advantage of brewing
sectarian differences in order to make inroads into Ramadi. The official
added that about 1,500 US troops had recently been transferred from Kuwait
into the Anbar province to help quell the violence. "This deployment
is a short-term one to ensure continuity during summer rotations,"
he said.
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- SM/AR/AM
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