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World Vision Delivers Relief Supplies to Bomb-Damaged Hospital
World Vision on April 26 brought relief supplies to doctors at the Al Rutba hospital in western Iraq, a facility that was heavily damaged by coalition bombs more than a month ago. World Vision staff, who first visited the hospital on April 25 to assess needs, quickly returned by truck with blankets, jerry cans, plastic sheeting, and medicines.Doctors report the bombing destroyed the hospital’s operating facilities, treatment rooms and supplies of medicines and medical equipment. The only hospital in the district, it serves as many as 20,000 people. “Doctors told me that a few children were coming in with shrapnel and burns,” said Al Dwyer, World Vision relief worker. “The town and the hospital are without telephones, power and running water.”
Many doctors note significant injuries as a result of unexploded ordinance (UXO) including landmines. In fact, doctors report that 12 children in the past week have been injured by landmines in Al Rutbah alone.
“I’ve worked in Angola and other countries where children are often injured by landmines,” said World Vision relief worker Al Dwyer. “But I have never seen the problem as severe as it is in this community.”
Unexploded bombs are often brightly colored and easily confused by children as toys. According to Landmine Action, some nearly 90 countries are contaminated by landmines. Landmines and other UXO cause an estimated 25,000 injuries and deaths every year. World Vision not only will replenish the hospital’s supply of painkillers, which had been used up, but it also will begin a landmines awareness program for children.
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