From Celebration to Sorrow
"We were about to celebrate my child's marriage before our town was invaded," explained Diyar's mother, Reem. “Our houses, cars and money can all be reimbursed - but what can compensate for the loss of my husband and child?" she asked.

 

Diyar and the surviving members of his family left his ruined house and town to spend one week in a village, before moving to Baghdad to stay with relatives.

 

"We have not done anything wrong to deserve this," declared Shima, still in mourning for her husband.

 

Shelter in Baghdad
An estimated 100,000 people are thought to have fled the violence in Falluja. Many of them have taken refuge in Baghdad where generous citizens have opened their homes to the refugees. One Baghdad resident, Mr Odeh, is sheltering 34 women and children in his family home.

"They are all relatives who fled our home town," Mr. Odeh said. "I am very worried about feeding the 22 children living in my house."

 

Islamic Relief has been helping Mr Odeh and the displaced Fallujans by delivering emergency relief food to his home. "We heard about Islamic Relief from our neighbours who received aid from them," he said.

 

Islamic Relief Response
IR has two emergency response teams tackling the crisis in Iraq . One team is dedicated to delivering aid to the displaced families sheltering in Baghdad , while a second team is delivering relief to those still inside Falluja.

 

"Everything that we have done so far is like a drop in the ocean compared to the level of need," remarked Ihsan, a member of IR's Falluja relief team. "We are afraid there will be starvation in the ruined town in the coming days," he warned.

 

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