Ban Advocates Blog

In 2003, when I was eight years old, Samarra in Iraq was attacked by American bombers. Bombs fell all around our house. Many exploded, but not all of them. One of my brothers, Jakob, 11 years old, found an unexploded component of a bomb and brought it with him into the house, where my mother was working in the kitchen. My brothers Ishak, 15 years old, and Jassin, three years old, were sleeping in the room next to the kitchen. Jakob thought he had found a really cool toy, but then it exploded. I lost four siblings and a cousin, and I now have burns covering 65% of my body. I was brought to a US field hospital together with Jakob, who was dying. I drifted in and out of consciousness. Jakob’s body disappeared in the American hospital. Why?

An American general visited my father and promised that Jakob’s body would be brought back. Eight days later, the promise had still not been fulfilled. My father then drove to the US military base, 180 kilometres away, in an attempt to get his son back, with no result. During all this, I was in bed in tremendous pain and my whole body was swollen beyond recognition. The Americans promised us free medical care in three different places, but nothing came of it. The person who finally helped me was Sheikh Zihad of the United Arab Emirates.

I want to be like other girls, to be able to play and be with my friends without feeling pain in my face, to be able to write and to walk like everyone else. I also wish we could have my brother Jakob’s body back, so we can bury him along with my other brothers.

It has been a terrible time for me and my family and I really hope that we can receive the help that is necessary. Since the accident, I can’t even open a door. I simply can’t manage without my parents’ help.