This is Iraqs new nightmare ethnic cleansing.These people are Shia, terrorised from their homes by Sunni Muslim gunmen. Elsewhere, the victims are the Sunnis, driven out by Shiite militias and the Shiite police.The main battle in Iraq is no longer between Sunni insurgents and American and Iraq militaries. Since the Sunnis blew up the Shiite holy shrine in Samarra, Shiite gunmen went on a rampage of revenge
the violence has been turning into a vicious sectarian civil war. The result 100000 people forced to flee their homes in fear for their lives.
The government is doing what it can to look after the victims. The Ministry of Migration and Displacement is providing food and mattresses.
Sattar Nourouz, the media spokesman for the Ministry explains
Sattar NourouzMinistry of Migration and DisplacementWe are dealing with an emergency. After the attack on Samarra, a massive movement/displacement of people began taking place. At the start, the media did not give it much attention, but now you hear about it everywhere. It is now a national disaster .To be perfectly honest, according to our statistics, we have seen both Shia and Sunni families becoming homeless and forcibly displaced So those responsible for this are targeting national unity. Though to be honest, the displaced Shia families far outnumber those Sunni families
The Ministry has set up 3 campsites around Baghdad in each of Sadr City, Obeidi and Shoula all Shia areas.
This convoy is heading to Shoula
First Worker we are only simple workers but we are doing a humanitarian job
Second Worker we are taking these supplies to families that were forced out of their homes, because of the cowardly terrorists who attacked and threatened them.
At Shoula, the aid supplies are being handed out at a local mosque.
Yousef Mezil NeemaWe faced attacks, and even kidnappings. They kidnapped and killed my son. This is on the first of January of this year. So we were forced to leave, to go somewhere safe, such as Shoula
People who would have been working now spend their days queuing for food handouts.
Yousef Mezil NeemaWe have no work and no one to support us. They killed my son, who used to work and earn money. I want the government, the politicians to take control of the situation and find a solution. Enough fighting and squabbling over posts and positions. Look at your people!! We are ruined! Iraqis are destroyed, totally destroyed! There are thousands like me
The Ministry is doing what it can to provide aid, but what people really want is to return to their lives.
Yousef Mezil NeemaFood does not solve our problem. Why dont they tackle the problem from its roots. Is it too much to ask our government to find us a land anywhere for us to live on. We have just lost all our property!! We are Iraqi citizens!We dont want washing powder and rice. These things are our right anyway as Iraqis as Sunnis, Shias, Kurds, our food rations are our right wherever we are. We want a solution to the real problem. Our children are denied an education. We have been disgraced. If I dont even know where I am going to settle down, how can I send my kids to school?
The suburb of Shoula has so far received 700 displaced families 3500 people. The stories are all too similar death threats, murdered husbands, no jobs, no money
Qasem Domar We were threatened. We found threats on notes in the street. Not just once or twice, it happened many times, and finally we decided to leave. How can we go back to our homes if there is no safety? If you step on to the street, a car would drive by and shoot you dead. You dont even know who your enemy is.Certain groups are responsible.All the world knows who is responsible.To be completely honest, really its America and Israel.
Umm MustafaOur lives are hell. Our sons cant find work. We struggle to pay rent, but I dont think I can ever go back home. I just cant. Not when they are threatening my sons.We dont know who is sending these notes. They either stick it on the door, or a man with his face completely covered delivers it
Mohammad Al Shoumali from the Ministry of Migration and Displacement knows the work he is doing is simply not enough.
Mohammad ShoumaliMinistry of Migration and DisplacementWe should be working on solving the reason for the displacement the issue of security. The terrorists are being left free to commit crimes we ask the Ministries of Defence and Interior to stop this bloodshed. We are dealing with the consequence, not the problem. The problem is security. What we are doing is temporary.To be frank, the supplies are not enough. But as a ministry we cant do everything. We need help and unfortunately, the displacement is increasing rather than decreasing. Until when will we let this carry on? This is actually illegal to force families to leave their home, land, property. Just because of their sect. It doesnt make sense All those leaders live in houses, and these families are in tents. It is unacceptable.
The threats are becoming direct and personal. Abu Faisal received a printed note with HIS NAME on it.
Abu FaisalWe got threatened. We were told to leave within 48 hours. I still have the note they sent us. Here. Film it if you want.
CU Threat note
Hajja Umm FaisalWe want work and normal lives. If the men left for work, they would be killed, and if they stayed at home, they would be killed as well. 07.31 All these young men, all unemployed, forced to leave their homes because of the slaughter We are hurt. We are in pain. Where is the government?
Young WidowThe terrorists kidnapped and killed him. They killed both him and his father. They left his 3 children with no home and no shelter.It was Friday, and he went to the mosque to pray. Men in a jeep followed him and took him. They were armed and their faces were covered. They found his body a few days later. The Iraqi police brought him to me. He was shot 8 times and they cut his throat.08.17 Never in my life have I seen or lived through anything like this. In all our history, we have never seen anything like this. And our three children now, orphaned with no one to look after them God willing there is a solution. The Iraqis are brothers and they will find a solution. All we want is a government. All we want safety.
A high ranking Ministry official arrives at the campsite to have his picture taken next to the gas cookers and the electricity generators that have just come in every 2 families share a cooker and a generator But the group the refugees really want to thank is the Mahdi Army the militia of radical Shia cleric Muqtada Al Sadr.
Khirbet HannounThe office of Sadr has done a lot for us. They are the only ones who have helped us.
Khirbet Hannoun greets the Ministry official; but in reality, hes not impressed
Khirbet Hannoun Here. Look at this. This is all the petrol we have. The government gave us nothing. All we have is the office of Sadr.
Abu Hassan We got threatened. And they kidnapped my son. We dont know if hes dead or alive. This was 7 months ago.I owned my house, for 16 years. I had to leave. I am scared for my children all I ask of God is to keep my children safe. We dont know whos responsible for these threats. The note was signed Jihad and Unity Party. It has to be the Sunnis. It cant be anyone else. They have brought this upon us.
The trouble is that for Sunnis, the Shiite militia like the Mahdi Army, and the Shiite run police, are the enemy And the suburb of Shoula is not a safe haven its the place theyre being driven out of.Hundreds have fled here to Al Karmah a Sunni area 20 kms north of Baghdad. The Ministry of Migration and Displacement doesnt have many fans here, and the Mahdi Army is feared and despised.
Majid Hamid Modein Director of Al Karmah MunicipalityWe have absolutely no contact with the Ministry of Migration and Displacement, at all. We have no representative from this ministry anywhere in the province or the area or the town. The only help we received is from the Red Crescent and other aid organizations, and generous donations by the people of Al Karmah.11.05 Unfortunately, help from the ministry has been focused on certain groups only. The Ministry of Migration and Displacement has focused on helping a certain group or sect, while ignoring the Sunnis. 11.18 Shoula is just on the border of Al Karmah and I can tell you for sure, the biggest harm and danger to Sunnis came from Shoula. Most of those displaced from Baghdad came from Shoula, and many of our people were killed and murdered in Shoula, under the knowledge, supervision and acceptance of the Mahdi Army.
Taxi Driver in Al KarmahAll these families left their homes because of the Mahdi Army and the Badr Brigade. Theyve even taken my uncle theyve had him for 3 months, and weve heard nothing about him. He used to live in Shoula, and its been 3 months since the Mahdi Army and the Badr Brigade have taken him, and we dont know if hes dead or alive.
Sheikh Mokheiber Khalaf is one of the residents of Al Karmah who is actively taking part in helping refugee families.He has turned this house into a centre where families receive food and shelter, until they find a place to live.
Sheikh Mokheiber KhalafThese families fled because of a violent, armed groups threatening their lives, groups which are operated and armed by neighbouring countries.These militias conducted armed attacks on Sunni areas and displaced many families burned homes They even killed their livestock.
Merhi Hussein KhalafWe fled from Forsan, in Nahrawan. We received a threat on the 28th of February 2006. It was broad daylight, and we were attacked by Iraqi police and security forces, along with armed militias. They killed people, killed families, killed animals, burned houses, cars Everyone fled the village.
Shias we talked to blamed America and Israel for their misery. Sunnis on the other hand had another enemy firmly in mind - Iran.
Sheikhs AssitantA Sunni person in Shoula cannot survive. Only yesterday another Sunni was killed he had fled his home 20 days ago. He went to Shoula yesterday to check on his house and they killed him.13.28 The only one to benefit from all of are the occupiers. How can we benefit from killing innocent people just because of their sect? These are militias sent and operated by neighbouring countries, by Iran.
Sheikh Mokheiber does what he can to deliver aid but hes operating in a battlezone.
Sheikh MokheiberWe were trying to get to an area to deliver aid to some displaced families but the Americans have blocked the road.
All the men can do is sit and wait.
Sheikh MokheiberWeve been here for around 2 hours, and this is probably going to go on much longer. For 2 hours, theyve had the road blocked. They need at least another 2 hours to do their search.14.17 Last night, there were some clashes with the American forces in this area. So today, theyve blocked all the roads to prevent anything else taking place.
The Americans not only have the road blocked they are also broadcasting a message to the people of Al Karmah through their Iraqi translator
Translator: those cowards place explosives on your streets they threaten the lives of your families come out and fight like men a few of you came out and faced us last night those are the ones planting explosives on your streets they are not honourable people how can they go to their women and pretend they are real men if they are real men let them come out and face us come out and fight us now
32.31 Sheikh laughs Theyre saying we are the criminals, that the criminals are sitting here but the criminals are the ones blocking the road.
Sheikh MokheiberGod Willing, there are signs that they are moving away and clearing the street. I dont think we can go to the other are now, because its too late. Its almost 2pm, and theres no time to go there and come back. So we cant show you the displaced families living there, nor can we go and check on them. We will show you some local sites instead.
For the Sunnis, the new Iraqi army and police are just another Shiite militia.
Umm AhmadWe got attacked by men carrying weapons. They were wearing army clothes and carrying weapons. They beat us and drove us out of the house.16.56 We ran away with nothing. Around 20 families left with us. We sit here all day and cry how can we be comfortable. The kids have left school, we left everything behind.
Hajja Umm HamadWe came from Nahrawan. They threatened us and burned our house down. They even killed the livestock, they left nothing.16.29 Many people left with us. I am now living with my son. We left everything behind everything was burned down.
Hamad AbdullahWe were attacked by men from the Ministry of Interior. They burned our houses, killed some of our families, so we fled. Around 50 families fled.Everything we owned was burned. We ran for our lives. We are struggling to survive.the ministry of Interior is behind this those who attacked us we wearing the Ministry uniform
A few Sunnis live in tents. Most find shelter with local families. But with no jobs and no money, all depend on handouts from the Iraqi Red Crescent at centers like this.
Threatened womanWe fled from Shoula, from Baghdad. We fled out of fear of death. We are afraid of being killed. We dont know whos behind those threats. We left everything. We brought nothing with us I dont think we will ever go back were too scared of them and what theyre capable of.Our neighbours cried for us. We are all in this together we dont know where death is coming from. So many have died.
Threatened woman We saw killing in front of us. Our neighbours were killed, in there own homes. We saw it ourselves. We feared for our lives. We ran away. Now its become Sunni against Shia. Death everywhere. We cant leave our homes. We are sheltered here with people, but at least we saved our sons. We had been living in Shoula for 40 years. There was never any problems. And this is where we ended up, after 3 months of killings and murder. We used to be brothers.
Threatened woman The Americans and the National Guard raided our house; they came after my sons. They raided us 3 times. We had nothing, I dont know what they were looking for. At the end, we got notes saying Sunnis must leave this area.
In areas controlled by Shia militias, even your name can be a liability Omar Shallabi is named after the Great Caliph Omar a Sunni hero.
Omar ShallabiMilitias came after us. They had a Farsi accent They said that since my name is Omar I must leave this is only done by militias, not by the people. These militias are operated by neighboring countries. I left everything and fled with my family is this the democracy they brought us?
Nobody knows how many husbands will be taken from there homes tonight; how many mutilated corpses will be found dumped in the morning; Nobody knows how many people will flee, taking only their fear and anger.
The government is doing what it can to look after the victims. The Ministry of Migration and Displacement is providing food and mattresses.
Sattar Nourouz, the media spokesman for the Ministry explains
Sattar NourouzMinistry of Migration and DisplacementWe are dealing with an emergency. After the attack on Samarra, a massive movement/displacement of people began taking place. At the start, the media did not give it much attention, but now you hear about it everywhere. It is now a national disaster .To be perfectly honest, according to our statistics, we have seen both Shia and Sunni families becoming homeless and forcibly displaced So those responsible for this are targeting national unity. Though to be honest, the displaced Shia families far outnumber those Sunni families
The Ministry has set up 3 campsites around Baghdad in each of Sadr City, Obeidi and Shoula all Shia areas.
This convoy is heading to Shoula
First Worker we are only simple workers but we are doing a humanitarian job
Second Worker we are taking these supplies to families that were forced out of their homes, because of the cowardly terrorists who attacked and threatened them.
At Shoula, the aid supplies are being handed out at a local mosque.
Yousef Mezil NeemaWe faced attacks, and even kidnappings. They kidnapped and killed my son. This is on the first of January of this year. So we were forced to leave, to go somewhere safe, such as Shoula
People who would have been working now spend their days queuing for food handouts.
Yousef Mezil NeemaWe have no work and no one to support us. They killed my son, who used to work and earn money. I want the government, the politicians to take control of the situation and find a solution. Enough fighting and squabbling over posts and positions. Look at your people!! We are ruined! Iraqis are destroyed, totally destroyed! There are thousands like me
The Ministry is doing what it can to provide aid, but what people really want is to return to their lives.
Yousef Mezil NeemaFood does not solve our problem. Why dont they tackle the problem from its roots. Is it too much to ask our government to find us a land anywhere for us to live on. We have just lost all our property!! We are Iraqi citizens!We dont want washing powder and rice. These things are our right anyway as Iraqis as Sunnis, Shias, Kurds, our food rations are our right wherever we are. We want a solution to the real problem. Our children are denied an education. We have been disgraced. If I dont even know where I am going to settle down, how can I send my kids to school?
The suburb of Shoula has so far received 700 displaced families 3500 people. The stories are all too similar death threats, murdered husbands, no jobs, no money
Qasem Domar We were threatened. We found threats on notes in the street. Not just once or twice, it happened many times, and finally we decided to leave. How can we go back to our homes if there is no safety? If you step on to the street, a car would drive by and shoot you dead. You dont even know who your enemy is.Certain groups are responsible.All the world knows who is responsible.To be completely honest, really its America and Israel.
Umm MustafaOur lives are hell. Our sons cant find work. We struggle to pay rent, but I dont think I can ever go back home. I just cant. Not when they are threatening my sons.We dont know who is sending these notes. They either stick it on the door, or a man with his face completely covered delivers it
Mohammad Al Shoumali from the Ministry of Migration and Displacement knows the work he is doing is simply not enough.
Mohammad ShoumaliMinistry of Migration and DisplacementWe should be working on solving the reason for the displacement the issue of security. The terrorists are being left free to commit crimes we ask the Ministries of Defence and Interior to stop this bloodshed. We are dealing with the consequence, not the problem. The problem is security. What we are doing is temporary.To be frank, the supplies are not enough. But as a ministry we cant do everything. We need help and unfortunately, the displacement is increasing rather than decreasing. Until when will we let this carry on? This is actually illegal to force families to leave their home, land, property. Just because of their sect. It doesnt make sense All those leaders live in houses, and these families are in tents. It is unacceptable.
The threats are becoming direct and personal. Abu Faisal received a printed note with HIS NAME on it.
Abu FaisalWe got threatened. We were told to leave within 48 hours. I still have the note they sent us. Here. Film it if you want.
CU Threat note
Hajja Umm FaisalWe want work and normal lives. If the men left for work, they would be killed, and if they stayed at home, they would be killed as well. 07.31 All these young men, all unemployed, forced to leave their homes because of the slaughter We are hurt. We are in pain. Where is the government?
Young WidowThe terrorists kidnapped and killed him. They killed both him and his father. They left his 3 children with no home and no shelter.It was Friday, and he went to the mosque to pray. Men in a jeep followed him and took him. They were armed and their faces were covered. They found his body a few days later. The Iraqi police brought him to me. He was shot 8 times and they cut his throat.08.17 Never in my life have I seen or lived through anything like this. In all our history, we have never seen anything like this. And our three children now, orphaned with no one to look after them God willing there is a solution. The Iraqis are brothers and they will find a solution. All we want is a government. All we want safety.
A high ranking Ministry official arrives at the campsite to have his picture taken next to the gas cookers and the electricity generators that have just come in every 2 families share a cooker and a generator But the group the refugees really want to thank is the Mahdi Army the militia of radical Shia cleric Muqtada Al Sadr.
Khirbet HannounThe office of Sadr has done a lot for us. They are the only ones who have helped us.
Khirbet Hannoun greets the Ministry official; but in reality, hes not impressed
Khirbet Hannoun Here. Look at this. This is all the petrol we have. The government gave us nothing. All we have is the office of Sadr.
Abu Hassan We got threatened. And they kidnapped my son. We dont know if hes dead or alive. This was 7 months ago.I owned my house, for 16 years. I had to leave. I am scared for my children all I ask of God is to keep my children safe. We dont know whos responsible for these threats. The note was signed Jihad and Unity Party. It has to be the Sunnis. It cant be anyone else. They have brought this upon us.
The trouble is that for Sunnis, the Shiite militia like the Mahdi Army, and the Shiite run police, are the enemy And the suburb of Shoula is not a safe haven its the place theyre being driven out of.Hundreds have fled here to Al Karmah a Sunni area 20 kms north of Baghdad. The Ministry of Migration and Displacement doesnt have many fans here, and the Mahdi Army is feared and despised.
Majid Hamid Modein Director of Al Karmah MunicipalityWe have absolutely no contact with the Ministry of Migration and Displacement, at all. We have no representative from this ministry anywhere in the province or the area or the town. The only help we received is from the Red Crescent and other aid organizations, and generous donations by the people of Al Karmah.11.05 Unfortunately, help from the ministry has been focused on certain groups only. The Ministry of Migration and Displacement has focused on helping a certain group or sect, while ignoring the Sunnis. 11.18 Shoula is just on the border of Al Karmah and I can tell you for sure, the biggest harm and danger to Sunnis came from Shoula. Most of those displaced from Baghdad came from Shoula, and many of our people were killed and murdered in Shoula, under the knowledge, supervision and acceptance of the Mahdi Army.
Taxi Driver in Al KarmahAll these families left their homes because of the Mahdi Army and the Badr Brigade. Theyve even taken my uncle theyve had him for 3 months, and weve heard nothing about him. He used to live in Shoula, and its been 3 months since the Mahdi Army and the Badr Brigade have taken him, and we dont know if hes dead or alive.
Sheikh Mokheiber Khalaf is one of the residents of Al Karmah who is actively taking part in helping refugee families.He has turned this house into a centre where families receive food and shelter, until they find a place to live.
Sheikh Mokheiber KhalafThese families fled because of a violent, armed groups threatening their lives, groups which are operated and armed by neighbouring countries.These militias conducted armed attacks on Sunni areas and displaced many families burned homes They even killed their livestock.
Merhi Hussein KhalafWe fled from Forsan, in Nahrawan. We received a threat on the 28th of February 2006. It was broad daylight, and we were attacked by Iraqi police and security forces, along with armed militias. They killed people, killed families, killed animals, burned houses, cars Everyone fled the village.
Shias we talked to blamed America and Israel for their misery. Sunnis on the other hand had another enemy firmly in mind - Iran.
Sheikhs AssitantA Sunni person in Shoula cannot survive. Only yesterday another Sunni was killed he had fled his home 20 days ago. He went to Shoula yesterday to check on his house and they killed him.13.28 The only one to benefit from all of are the occupiers. How can we benefit from killing innocent people just because of their sect? These are militias sent and operated by neighbouring countries, by Iran.
Sheikh Mokheiber does what he can to deliver aid but hes operating in a battlezone.
Sheikh MokheiberWe were trying to get to an area to deliver aid to some displaced families but the Americans have blocked the road.
All the men can do is sit and wait.
Sheikh MokheiberWeve been here for around 2 hours, and this is probably going to go on much longer. For 2 hours, theyve had the road blocked. They need at least another 2 hours to do their search.14.17 Last night, there were some clashes with the American forces in this area. So today, theyve blocked all the roads to prevent anything else taking place.
The Americans not only have the road blocked they are also broadcasting a message to the people of Al Karmah through their Iraqi translator
Translator: those cowards place explosives on your streets they threaten the lives of your families come out and fight like men a few of you came out and faced us last night those are the ones planting explosives on your streets they are not honourable people how can they go to their women and pretend they are real men if they are real men let them come out and face us come out and fight us now
32.31 Sheikh laughs Theyre saying we are the criminals, that the criminals are sitting here but the criminals are the ones blocking the road.
Sheikh MokheiberGod Willing, there are signs that they are moving away and clearing the street. I dont think we can go to the other are now, because its too late. Its almost 2pm, and theres no time to go there and come back. So we cant show you the displaced families living there, nor can we go and check on them. We will show you some local sites instead.
For the Sunnis, the new Iraqi army and police are just another Shiite militia.
Umm AhmadWe got attacked by men carrying weapons. They were wearing army clothes and carrying weapons. They beat us and drove us out of the house.16.56 We ran away with nothing. Around 20 families left with us. We sit here all day and cry how can we be comfortable. The kids have left school, we left everything behind.
Hajja Umm HamadWe came from Nahrawan. They threatened us and burned our house down. They even killed the livestock, they left nothing.16.29 Many people left with us. I am now living with my son. We left everything behind everything was burned down.
Hamad AbdullahWe were attacked by men from the Ministry of Interior. They burned our houses, killed some of our families, so we fled. Around 50 families fled.Everything we owned was burned. We ran for our lives. We are struggling to survive.the ministry of Interior is behind this those who attacked us we wearing the Ministry uniform
A few Sunnis live in tents. Most find shelter with local families. But with no jobs and no money, all depend on handouts from the Iraqi Red Crescent at centers like this.
Threatened womanWe fled from Shoula, from Baghdad. We fled out of fear of death. We are afraid of being killed. We dont know whos behind those threats. We left everything. We brought nothing with us I dont think we will ever go back were too scared of them and what theyre capable of.Our neighbours cried for us. We are all in this together we dont know where death is coming from. So many have died.
Threatened woman We saw killing in front of us. Our neighbours were killed, in there own homes. We saw it ourselves. We feared for our lives. We ran away. Now its become Sunni against Shia. Death everywhere. We cant leave our homes. We are sheltered here with people, but at least we saved our sons. We had been living in Shoula for 40 years. There was never any problems. And this is where we ended up, after 3 months of killings and murder. We used to be brothers.
Threatened woman The Americans and the National Guard raided our house; they came after my sons. They raided us 3 times. We had nothing, I dont know what they were looking for. At the end, we got notes saying Sunnis must leave this area.
In areas controlled by Shia militias, even your name can be a liability Omar Shallabi is named after the Great Caliph Omar a Sunni hero.
Omar ShallabiMilitias came after us. They had a Farsi accent They said that since my name is Omar I must leave this is only done by militias, not by the people. These militias are operated by neighboring countries. I left everything and fled with my family is this the democracy they brought us?
Nobody knows how many husbands will be taken from there homes tonight; how many mutilated corpses will be found dumped in the morning; Nobody knows how many people will flee, taking only their fear and anger.