Iraqi American describes worsening conditions in Iraq
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A UMNS photo by Kathy Gilbert
Andy Shallal, with the Iraqi American Alliance, addresses Church and Society members on the status of his home country.
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Shallal, with the Iraqi American Alliance, addresses members of the
Peace with Justice/United Nations and International Affairs work area on
the status of his home country. The work area is part of the United
Methodist Board of Church and Society, which met April 20-23 in
Washington. The alliance, based in Washington, is working to improve
relations between Iraqis and Americans. A UMNS photo by Kathy Gilbert.
Photo #06418. Accompanies UMNS story #238. 4/25/06 |
April 25, 2006
By Kathy L. Gilbert*
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — Everyday life in Iraq is becoming increasingly
dangerous, an Iraqi American told the United Methodist Board of Church
and Society.
"Iraq is becoming unlivable," said Andy Shallal, who has many family members living in the country.
The Board of Church and Society passed a resolution in 2005 calling on
the United States to withdraw troops from Iraq. Shallal spoke to the
board's Peace with Justice/United Nations and International Affairs work
area during the agency's April 20-23 meeting. He is with the Iraqi
American Alliance, a Washington-based group working to strengthen
relations between Iraqis and Americans.
"One hundred and ninety-two professors have been killed since the start
of the war," he said. "Three more have been killed in the last three
weeks." Those who can leave are leaving, he said.
The violence has touched Shallal's family. One of his nephews was
abducted while going to school. The 15-year-old was held captive until
his parents could pay $50,000 for his return. He came back "bruised, cut
and emotionally scarred. These acts are so brazen, and it does no good
to go to the police," Shallal said.
He described how general living conditions have deteriorated. The price
of gas is astronomical in a country that only a few years ago paid 10
cents a gallon. "The country is one big gas station," he said. "No one
understands why the prices are so high."
The lucky people get electricity for about six hours a day, and in a
country that once had one of the best health care systems in the Middle
East, getting medical care is almost impossible, he said.
"My uncle who has asthma went to the hospital during one of the bad
sandstorms. There were 200 people waiting to use the one oxygen tank,"
he said.
A change in U.S. policy is needed, according to Shallal.
"Americans can play a role," he said. "Cities shouldn't be put under
siege. Instead, air drop in supplies of food, water and generators. The
United States has to change its policy toward Iraq."
Jim Winkler, top staff executive of the Board of Church and Society,
told board members "it is a sad fact that the people of Iraq are now
worse off today than they were prior to the U.S.-led invasion. Perhaps
as many as 250,000 Iraqis have died from violence or the breakdown of
basic health care and other infrastructures."
The Board of Church and Society is the social action and advocacy agency of the United Methodist Church.
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Resources
A Statement on the Iraq War
General Board of Church and Society
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