Baghdad: US and Iraqi soldiers found 24 severely malnourished children in a Baghdad orphanage - some tied to their beds and too weak to stand, the US military said yesterday.
Labour and Social Affairs Minister Mahmoud Mohammad Al Radhi criticised publicity surrounding the boys and said news reports about the case were inaccurate.
"We totally reject the tricks they used to manipulate and distort facts and show the Americans as the humanitarian party. That could not be farther from the truth," he said.
The minister said the institution in which the boys were housed had saved them from a certain death on the streets of Baghdad. All the boys, he said, were severely handicapped and abandoned by their families.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has vowed to investigate and punish those responsible.
The US military, which leaked the story and pictures of the orphanage to CBS News earlier this week, said they were all boys between the ages of 3 and 15. It said many of the youngsters were found naked in a dark room with no windows.
Supplies of food and clothing were found in a nearby storeroom.
Caretakers
Three women, who claimed to be caretakers, and two men, the orphanage director and a guard, were in the building when the soldiers arrived on June 10, according to the military statement.
Al Radhi issued his comments to the independent Sharqiya television station, which is often critical of the government. It showed still pictures of the emaciated children lying on the floor, some of them tied to cribs.
The pan-Arab daily Al Hayat also published a picture of the children.
The military said US medics were called in to treat the children and Iraqi soldiers notified local council members, who came to help the boys. Ten additional workers have been hired to work with the children who were transferred to another facility.
"We're very grateful that this story unfolded the way that it did, that none of these 24 boys lost their lives," Brigadier General Vincent Brooks, Multi-National Division-Baghdad deputy commanding general, said.
"This is a story of partnership, courageous action and compassion overcoming deplorable negligence," Brooks said.
Iraqi children are thought to have suffered most in the violence that has torn Iraq for more than four years.
Your comments
Is there a way, we can adopt these kids legally? It is really heart breaking. I can't control my tears.
Nazeera
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 15:34
Here in Sweden we have open the arms to many Iraqi families. When I saw these pictures of the abused boys I felt such a heat of anger in my heart. God let it happen to show us how bad people can be. Innocent children will always have the best place in the hereafter.
Maria
Lund,Sweden
Posted: June 21, 2007, 14:54
The inhumanity displayed toward these children was not caused by war. According to the report, food and clothing were available. The "caretakers" apparently cared so little about these children they didn't bother to feed and clothe them. I suspect the root cause of this situation was a disdain for the orphans in general.
Jean
St Louis,USA
Posted: June 21, 2007, 14:53
This is clear proof and demonstration of the present Iraqi government's failure to administer and govern this country. A bunch of useless and careless politicians. During the years of Saddam, there was no such suffering, no rapes, no murders, no bombings. I never thought I would say this but I wish the old man could come back to sort this big mess, because only he knew how to rule his people, country and deal with his neighbours.
Michael
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 14:24
I dont think we wish a new Saddam to be born, he was the cause of all poroblems that my country suffered in the past and is suffering today. Thousands of children are orphaned because of his actions starting from 1980. Eight years of war with Iran, Gulf war, 13 years of sanctions and 2003 war. What do you think is the outcome? Morals are gone, passion and sympathy is gone for ever. Saddam has handed Iraq and its people on a plate of gold to Americans, Al Qaida, and current Iraqi government who has no experience in governing at all. Americans transferred their so called war on terrorism to take place in Iraq and keep USA safe and secure. I wish God takes revenge from all who is killing, prisoning, kidnapping, torturing innocent Iraqis. No matter whats their nationality or religion. They are killers and they will pay for that soon. Please no matter where you are, pray for all Iraqis Muslims, Christians, Arabs and Kurds, kids and adults to find peace and this blood shedding and inhuman actions to be stopped.
Iraqi
Baghdad,Iraq
Posted: June 21, 2007, 13:22
This is really hurt me and I cried when I saw these innocent children's photos and their condition. It seems there is no human being living in that country. How many more are suffering there we don't know.
Mohammed
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 12:27
I cried when I saw the photographs.
Priyaranjan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 11:52
As the Iraqi minister claims that they kept the children to save their lives from a certain death in Baghdad streets because they are severely handicapped then why were the children tied up like animals?
Shabbir
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 11:50
Certainly, its heart breaking, I blame West since it policy to control the resource, whether it Africa, or Asia creating anarchy and disorder in 3rd world.
Khalid
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 11:46
I have kids the same age as them, and it breaks my heart just to think if the fate happen to my kids. Whoever is responsible to this, they should ashamed of themselves. Your actions makes the world so ugly and horrible to live for the coming children. I pray to God that these children will be given treatment as soon as possible and heal the wounds not just physical but also emotional. I pray also that they may grow and live a good person inspite of the paid that they experienced.
Wendelyn
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 11:29
What is this. After seeing this I am crying and crying. I am the mother of two. Please don't do any thing with kids. If u dont want them please give to us. We will take care of them. Those who have power. Do something. I hope this picture will open the eyes of Americans and the Iraqi govt.
Preethy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 11:28
When the headline read 'US' discovered malnourished children, we found out that it was the usual face-saving methods of US. It is high time they realised the effects of their so called 'liberation'! Iraqis are suffering due to the American Humanitarian people.
Shaheer
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 11:24
The person or groups who were responsible for this tragedy should be kept in the same situation in the same room.
Morteza
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 11:22
I broke down instantly. These little orphans have no one to secure them. I hope the US military will help them to the maximum and give them their best. How can people be so ruthless towards little children who don't even know what is happening and are so very innocent.
Brenda
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 11:12
God, please send new Saddam to rescue the Iraq from American occupation, killing and humiliation. Where are you Mr. New Saddam, we are waiting for you.
Syed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 11:07
I wish we could do something for these children or other children in, God forbid, similar conditions.
Yasir
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 11:05
Whoever is responsible for this crime should be beheaded.
Jayaram
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:56
The situation of the orphans is really slicing our heart. But who will give warranty that those (the pictures) are not propaganda of US since US is losing trust from every corner of the world. It is clear the worsening situation in Iraq is caused by US-led invasion.
Aboo
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:53
At a time when the Americans PR is at an all-time low, this is nothing less than a gold mine for the invaders. If the US has been so complacent in lying about presence of WMDs and links to terrorist organisations in Iraq, what reason is there not to believe that this in itself is a completely distorted story? All we have before us are pictures of severely malnourished and sick children and an American version of what they claimed actually happened. Why is it so hard for people to admit that the Americans were completely unjustified in their murderous rampage on Iraq as well as admit that the Americans are completely to blame for the pitiful state of the Iraqi nation. Iraq was never in such a bad state under Saddam?s rule.
Ali
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:41
I am speechless.. Is there a way we can help these children?
Samer Costantini
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:32
This is so heart-breaking, it's so painful. I just hope these are not American made-up stories. You know they are capable of doing everything, even manipulating the media.
Hellen
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:19
I could not stop myself from crying when I saw these pictures and read the story. What kind of heartless animals are those caretakers? How can anyone do this to children. Iraq is so torn by war, that people have lost any element of humanity. However, the US forces who are portraying themselves as saviours should remember that they are responsible for this situation. I thank god these children were found before it was too late and I pray that they recover from all the horrible abuse they have suffered.
Lakshmi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:17
Why is it always about finger pointing - it was him, it was them? What is our responsibility here? Can we not just be human enough to see this pain and try to help these children? A mother of three myself it broke my heart to see see pictures. Where have all the human beings gone?
Shamim
New York,USA
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:11
I cant believe this is happening in Iraq. Where is humanity, where are the teachings of Islam. Is this how you treat the poor children? I wish a new Saddam is born to get rid of all the evil that has taken over Iraq. May God bless the innocent people of Iraq. I don't know if anybody will agree with me on this or not, I blame the US and the puppet Iraqi govt for everything happening in Iraq.
Yousef
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 09:58
I am really worried about the children. What is gonna happen to them now?Please tell me whom should we blame?Iraq Goverment or the US Goverment?Whose gonna be responsible for these innocent children? I am full these kind of questions and feeling so helpless for this children.
Trishna
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 09:46
There are no lies about this story and I doubt that the Americans made this up too. The Iraqi government should be ashamed and take some serious acts instead of defending their image all the time. Enough is enough.
FZ
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 09:19
This truly broke my heart to see this article. The person(S) responsible for this should be ashamed of themselves and they should remember that those are God's children. I would love to give those kids a home and a life they deserve!
Yolande
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 09:14
I cried when I saw the photos and could not control my self bacuse I replaced those kids with mine. This would not have happened if the invasion did not take place. Why the world is so cruel?
Mohammed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 09:04
