Changing Situations - A Report From Our Iraqi Translator

Iraq blog | 9th October 2008

I really don't know how Abu Mohammed's situation changed, but I remember our old neighbour well! He was rich, owning splendid house, comfortable car, large farm, and of course, he had money. This was all before I travel to Jordan in September 2001 to work.

 

I returned to a hopeful Iraq on September 2003 after Saddam's topple, only to see Abu Mohammed had sold everything; his house, car, and farm. He is living now in a "hawasem" house (Hawasem means people who build their houses from mud or cement bricks in public places) with his wife and six children - two girls and four boys.

Now he has nothing, and therefore he stopped his two daughters going to school, and is searching for jobs for his two sons in the Iraqi police or army.

The last time I saw Abu Mohammed was a few days ago. He was weak because he has diabetes. Faithfulness is the only thing never changes in Abu Mohammed. "Tomorrow will be better"
he said. I asked him why he sold everything, but he answered "God can change everything!" So, I still don't know the reasons why Abu Mohammed's situation changed.

Here in Nasseriya (a city in the south of Iraq) many poor people deserve help because they are even more worse off than Abu Mohammed. The situation has become more and more difficult but they do nothing except waiting for help from here or there!
I heard an Iraqi proverb repeated by Abu Mohammed; "Disaster falls just on the poor's head!" Do you believe in this Iraqi proverb?

• Digg
• Del.icio.us
• Email to a friend
• Add a new comment