Baqaa Refugee Camp

One of the most emotional experiences happened today when the Global Exchange delegation visited the Baqaa Palestinian Refugee Camp in Jordan. The camp is not a camp like you would imagine with tents, but more of a seemingly endless inner-city housing project.  The streets were so narrow that our bus had to squeeze its way through the busy streets. An endless stream of refugees were all walking in many directions. The camp now holds 102,000 people in a 1.4 kilometer area.

As we were getting an orientation at the Baqaa administration office, It just happened that the camp elder showed up to speak. He is 96 years old, tall, thin, and brown, wearing a red and white kefiyah with black knit crown. He bore a wisdom that minimized all our fancy notions of our own civility.

He told us that Palestinian people blame the US for their 61-year plight, being massacred and forced to flee form their homes and villages in 1948. The situation s going from bad to worse. "The [Palestinian] refugees will always want to go back to their homes. How would you like it," pointing to one delegate's backpack, "if I took your bag and would not give it back? Or if I told you that you must give to me your home?"

"I have been a refugee for 61 years," the old shekh continued, "all the western nations that have contributed to this crisis are not taking responsibility. Now the United Nations Relief and Works Agency UNRWA must go begging for resources. You as NGOs have the same responsibility. You have to tell them that we wish to have our right to return to Palestine."

The GX delegates left the office and headed for the clinic. I felt a wave of guilt and emotion rise in me as I saw the misplaced people of Palestine blandly existing in this dusty, crowded, place. We saw many goods for sell in the market area, handicrafts and dry-looking fruits for sale. Then laid out on blankets were broken scraps of shriveled pita bread... for sale! "What have we done?" I thought, "in our unwavering blind support for the brutal Occupation of Palestine that causes this unforgivable hardship?"

 I thought of the people in Gaza, under Israeli siege, without food, electricity or any goods going in or out, right now; Gazans, who are making their bread from the throw-away part of the wheat so they can fill their children's bellies with something.

 

The tour took us to a women's empowerment and vocational center. Then the  final stage of our tour was the elementary school. Thank goodness for this. The teachers at this school are miracle workers, keeping the children busy with learning English, math, kindness and songs.

The GX delegation was graced with the innocent joy of these children who have nothing but love. And they insist on giving all of what they have to the visitors from the West.

US Missile Landed in His Bedroom

GLOBAL EXCHANGE; WAR AND DISPLACEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Status of Forces Agreement is product of bribes and deceit

A missile fired into Miqdad Baghdadi's bedroom one night. In fact, the missile landed right in the bed where he and his wife lay. His leg was burned and he saw his wife's hair on fire. Her chest was burned as well. Fortunately their injuries were not life-threatening.Mr Baghdadi found wire and fragments with the identifying markings of "USA." They did not file an incident report, because to be seen going into the US headquarters, could put a mark on you, as a collaborator.

The US headquarters, AKA the Green Zone, "is half the size of the city of Damascus and sustains 3000 employees." Mr. Baghdadi was finally forced to enter the Green Zone when his nephew was kidnapped in 2006. The abduction was conducted by the Iraqi Ministry of Health. Two police cars and four unmarked Hum V's pulled up to his house and ushered the nephew away. He is still missing. 

Mr. Baghdadi, a prominent member of the community with an established family name in Baghdad, went to to the Green Zone with his niece to speak with President Malaki. They were escorted through many layers of security personnel, the first being contracted soldiers from the Fiji Islands, with guard dogs. "The walls [around the Green Zone] are thirty feet high." Mr. Baghdadi told the Global Exchange delegation. They went through five check points and then were separated and searched. Even their military escorts were searched. After a long wait, they finally met with President Malaki. The dialogue was tense and the two men argued. Bagdadi and his niece left with no hope of finding her husband.

Our GX delegates heard more stories of disrespect towards Iraqis by the US soldiers. President Malaki's number #2 man was seen being knocked down by US soldiers and his head stepped upon. Another time,  a presidential consultant and his wife were forced out there house into the street, the middle of the night, in their pajamas, while soldiers searched their house.

Mr. Baghdadi also had a surprise visit. One night he was on the phone and suddenly felt someone behind him. A US soldier had a gun pointed at him. More soldiers appeared. They had come in through the roof, which was common practice. His wife and daughter were also held at gunpoint while their home was searched. Mr. Baghdadi was asked about any guns in the house. One gun is allowed. He was told to his gun. 

Soldiers customarily confiscate personal  items, i.e. gold, money and cell phones. When Baghdadi went upstairs to retrieve his gun, there was a soldier in his bedroom. He decided to get all of his rings and put them on his fingers so they would not be stolen by the soldiers. When Baghdadi got back downstairs, a soldier intrusively asked him, "why are you wearing so many rings?" 

Mr. Baghdadi replied, "this is my hobby."

Another soldier saw the beautiful family garden and said he did not know that there were gardens in Iraq. Baghdadi replied, "we are not all Bedouins." 

A new Status of Forces agreement that mandates a 2011 pullout of troops has little public support,  GX was informed on numerous occasions that the cosignatories of the SOF were all publicly bribed, received diplomatic passports for themselves and their families, and were given armored cars to ward off assassination attempts.

Miqdad Baghdadi worked in the Iraqi government for 29 years in the Ministry for Mosques and Restoration and the Ministry for Information. He belongs to an international organization for the conservation for museums and heritage. His family is the eldest in Baghdad.