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In 1993 Dr. Hamid Al-Bayati the SCIRI representative in UK visited the Iran-Iraq border, accompanied by Emma Nicholson,
MP, and BBC reporter George Allegier, and The Times newspaper reporter Tom Rhodes. He wrote the following account of the visit.
I noticed a huge number of marsh refugees, approximately 50,000, were living on
the asphalt road which runs from the  marshes to the
Iran-Iraq border. They are living in shanties made from reeds, bonded to the asphalt with lumps of dried clay which gives little or no protection from the winds or the extreme
temperature which can reach 50 or 55 degrees centigrade. They are forced to drink water which had been contaminated by sewage leaking from their makeshift lavatories, which they have
constructed by tethering together old clothes, rags and blankets to afford some degree of privacy.
The Iranian Government had provided food and fresh water, and
the AMAR Appeal, supported by Emma Nicholson, MP, had set up a clinic to help them with their immediate medical needs. Many of them are suffering from bloody diarrhoea or amoebic
dysentery, and cholera. We witnessed many young people lying stiffly in a coma state. Many parents complained that the drugs are now ineffective and the food and water is insufficient for their needs. Forced to flee their
homes they were unable to carry even the basic essentials, arriving at the border with just the clothes they stood in. These people are desperate for shelter, adequate food,
water and medical supplies. There is a severe shortage of clothes and blankets.I asked many of the refugees why they had fled their homes. They gave two main reasons:
- The Regime's drainage scheme of erecting a huge number of dykes which have diverted the water supply to Shat AI-Arab which runs into the Gulf has caused the marshes to
dry up. SCIRI repeatedly published warnings about the Regime's scheme, and the severe consequences of the exodus occurring during the summer months.
- The continuous heavy artillery bombardment razed their homes and villages to the ground, killing or injuring many of the people.
I video-recorded my interviews with many of the casualties of the bombardments, which are being held as evidence. They expressed their concern for the many people still trapped in the
marshlands, suffering repeated military attacks, the echoes of which could be heard by us at the border.
I witnessed two families running towards the border during an intermittent attack. We asked them what had happened. The father, carrying his sick daughter,
explained that they were running from the heavy shelling. He told us five families still remained behind. From where we stood we could hear the noise of the heavy machinery building the
dykes. The dams are also being used as watchtowers for the Regime's patrols and to enable them to direct fire at the fleeing families. I spoke to Abu Abbas from AI- Agar area of Amara
Province and he told me that he also fled for these same reasons. Abu Hussain from
AI-Sihain region of Amara Province fled one month ago due to
food and water shortage and the spread of diseases. The other main reason was the constant bombardment. He appeals to all world organizations to look at the situation with compassion,
especially towards the children and elderly.
A couple from AI-Mdainah of Basrah Province informed us that they and 70 others left as a result of lack of water, food and the
heavy bombardment. They had faced great problems and had to flee under the cover of night. Many of the children died on the journey.
A middle-aged man called Abdul Imam from Basrah mentioned
that the Regime's, armoured vehicles, heavy artillery and Grad missile launchers have been used. Iraqi fighters have been known to fly south of the 32nd parallel and the last flight reported
was June 15, 1993. They flew over the AI-Sihain area at a very low level. They believe they took off from Telha Air Force Base which is located at AI-Mdainah of Basrah Province. There are
many people suffering from heat stroke, sickness and diarrhoea. Many families trapped inside the marshes are forced to use contaminated water. The security situation is getting worse. One
day a security unit attacked one family, killing one of them, while three members of another family were taken away. He also reported that 118 people from the AI Helaf Tribe were detained,
amongst whom was a lady of 60 yeas old.
Abdul Kadom from AI-Qurnah Marshes of Basrah Province mentioned that he left Basrah and reached Benny Malik of
AI-Azair region. They travelled on foot along the road, from behind they were attacked by a military unit which opened fire killing one person, injuring several and capturing a few of them.
The date was 28th June, 1993. Hussain AI-Shaganbi from AI-Saigal of Amara Province left his home due to lack of water and heavy bombardment. SEVERAL INJURED VICTIMS NAMED
- Hamad
from Basrah, had his right hand blown off and has shrapnel embodied in his right leg from bombardments.
- Leftah
was wounded by air defence 23 mm machine-gun fire which went through the front of his leg.
- Taha
from AI-Jidi of Amara Province had a bullet pass through the palm of his hand which broke all his fingers.
- Mohammed
of AI-Shighanb Tribe of AI-Seigal area was wounded in his legs and cannot walk.
- Rashid
from Abu Sobat of AI-Chebayish of AI-Nasriyah Province was wounded during a random search campaign.
The names of the tribes and the villages of the latest exodus of refugees from the marshes to Hemmet on the Iraqi -Iranian border are as follows:
- AI-Sheghanbah Tribe from Abu-Sboor, AI-Sihain, AI-Adl, Um-G'aid villages. All local rivers have dried up.
- AI-Fertoos Tribe from the above-named villages.
- AI-Nuafil Tribe from AI-Zichiyyh and AI-Hishriyyah.
- AI-Ezairij Tribe from AI-Heddameh , Abu-Jessanah and AI-Salam villages All local rivers have dried up.
- AI -Bukraim ( the same villages as in 4)
- AI-Swa'id Tribe from AI-Heddameh and Abu-Ashreh Waterway.
- Bait Nesr-Allah Tribe from AI-Jidi and Um-Gaiyydeh.
- AI-Bazun Tribe from Zichri (Basrah Marshes).
- AI-Helaf Tribe from Silleen and AI-Sherteh (Basrah Marshes).
- AI-Sadeh Bait AI-Battat Tribe from AI-Selal and Germat Ali (Basrah Marshes).
- AI-Hchaim Tribe from Nasiryah Marshes.
There are many scattered families who do not belong to the above-named tribes. |
