Region | Iraq
Iraqi refugees at camp caught between rival forces
Sadr City civilians face danger from militants who target them for accepting humanitarian aid from other Shiite groups
- By Sudarsan Raghavan, Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service
- Published: 00:38 May 16, 2008
Baghdad: Inside his olive-green tent, Abbas Laibi Sadoon unveiled the fresh scar on the right shoulder of his 7-year-old son, Ali. It was caused, Sadoon said, by a US airstrike targeting Shiite militiamen in the capital's Sadr City enclave. That was why his family fled their home six days ago.
But in this displacement camp at Baghdad's largest stadium, Sadoon's family faced another danger: The militiamen could target them for accepting humanitarian aid from Shiite rivals who lead Iraq's government. That, and the fragility of a truce, was why the family feared returning home on Tuesday.
"Those who are coming here are risking their life," said Sadoon, seated on a blue tarpaulin near donated food, his radio by his feet. "I might die because of this, but I am afraid for my kids."
The civilians of Sadr City are increasingly trapped between two battles for the soul of Iraq - one pitting US forces against the fighters of Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr's Mahdi Army, the second between Iraq's Shiite parties.
Clashes erupted late Monday night and Tuesday, despite a ceasefire formally signed Monday by lawmakers loyal to Sadr and Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki. The violence left at least 11 civilians dead and 20 wounded, police said, adding that at least three militiamen were also killed.
Reports of the fresh violence quickly filtered back to the 28 families from Sadr City who have fled to this soccer field in Shaab Stadium with their meagre possessions.
"There is no truce," said Mohammad Jasem, 38, a physical education teacher who arrived Saturday with 10 relatives. "We hear something from the politicians, but we see something different on the ground."
"We are the victims, we and our sons," said Ali Jaffer Mohsin, 52, the owner of a small shop in Sadr City who was standing outside Jasem's tent.
A few hours earlier, Mohsin had taken his four children to school inside Sadr City because he had heard about the ceasefire.
It was the first day of exams, and the Ministry of Education said they would not be postponed. But as he drove through Sadr City, he said he saw missiles striking a building and immediately returned to the camp.
The camp, which opened May 8, was expected to house as many as 500 families. Iraqi government officials said the number of arrivals was low because many had gone to live with their extended families.
"Those are the families who have no other place to go. No relatives, no other shelter," said Hamid Abdul Rahim, the camp's administrator. "The number of people who fled their houses are 100 times more than what we have here."
But others said Mahdi Army militiamen were preventing many of Sadr City's displaced from seeking assistance at the camp. Rumours abounded of the Mahdi Army warning people against going to Shaab Stadium.
A US military officer with knowledge of the camp said many Iraqis were not coming here because they lacked trust in the Iraqi government to provide adequate food and services.
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