they changed a hospital room into an internet communication room
Submitted by antarchi on October 10, 2010 - 23:16
Nahoko: The Ramadi Maternity Hospital is big, with about 270 beds. In 2003, the hospital was very crowded with many doctors and nurses. But last year, there were few doctors and nurses. I could see that much of the equipment was gone… The director explained that in 2006, Ramadi city was occupied by the American army. The Ramadi Hospital and Ramadi University became American military bases. The American soldiers threw all of the equipment—blood pressure monitors, desks, medical tools, refrigerators…away. You can find the remains as garbage around the hospital…you can find wheelchairs, beds, and medical equipment. It's all completely damaged.
They completely changed the buildings... They changed classrooms into bedrooms. They changed a hospital room into an internet communication station for the soldiers. Even the schools were occupied. When the Sahwa soldiers took control in 2007, the Americans left the occupied buildings, but there was already so much damage. The situation did get better—dramatically—after the Sahwa movement started. At that time, many doctors came back.
NCCI: But when you went to the Ramadi Hospital last year, in 2009, you saw less doctors than you had seen in 2003?
Nahoko: Much less, yes. Many of them have been assassinated, detained, or have taken refuge.
