05/02/2003

For that past month, this woman has been sick.  She and her family arrived from Baghdad five days ago, and have been living in a public building.   Her husband explained that she became traumatized in Baghdad during the bombing campaign, and now she is not focused and can no longer do regular chores.  Each day she wanders the schoolyard and sleeps outside.  Her husband must now do all the cleaning and care for their seven children.  The neighbors help them with food.  They used to live in an apartment in Baghdad, but the owner took it away because they could not afford to pay the rent.  Her husband explained, “We survived the war, but now what do I do?  My wife can no longer take care of the children.  She is very sick.”  He has no way to earn money and no food.  He used to receive food from the Oil-for-Food Program, but now he does not know where to go now for assistance.  When asked about his future, he says, “The Americans will take care of me.  They will come and help me.”