Haidar Samir Ahmed: Civilian, American gunfire. Haidar Samir Ahmed (age 17, b.1981), at home with his younger sister Athra (9yrs.old) in the Karradat Mariam district of Baghdad. Injured on April 11, 2003, by American gunfire resulting in an arm amputation. “The Americans fired a rocket; my arm was lost. I was home alone because my parents were in Al-Jihad staying with family, and I stayed here to watch over our apartment. I didn’t have food to eat so I was going to get some. I didn’t know what the situation had become on the streets. After I was hit, somebody picked me up and dropped me off at Al-Kindi hospital. I don’t see out of my left eye, they said they couldn’t do anything for it. I have spent over 2 million Dinars (approx $1400USD) on surgeries and medical care.” Haidar lives in Karradat Mariam, just meters away from the Green Zone, Saddam’s former Presidential Palace, it was a district that was heavily hit during the war in 2003. Haidar’s father died from an illness before the war began in 2003. Haidar is the eldest of eight. He has one brother and six younger sisters. His mother says that Haidar is “sick with anger” especially towards his brother Ahmed, as he is jealous that Ahmed has both his arms. The two brothers have not spoken for two years. Being the eldest son and with no father, Haidar deals with shame in not being able to care for his family. Haidar’s mother sells soda, chips and cigarettes to local neighbors from her apartment to try to make ends meet.

Razak Rashed Abbas (age 54, b.1952) at home with his son and granddaughter in the Adhamiya district of Baghdad. Injured on October 27, 2003 by a suicide bomber, resulting in a left leg amputation. “I have been an Iraqi police officer for 32 years. It was the start of Ramadan. I went from home to work, at the police station in Khithra district. Everyday, we rotate duties at the station. My duties that day were the main gates. It was around 9:30 am. A green Land Cruise broke through the barricade, a man wearing military clothes was driving. I watched him as he opened the door and got out. He was tall and young, maybe 25. He looked at the station and I was there at the station entrance, the closest to him, then immediately there was a blast and I fell. My leg was dismembered immediately. I was lying on my back and just wanted somebody to finish me off. I was holding my stomach, it was hanging out, I just tried to hold it all in. A friend came over and put me in the back of his truck. They picked up my leg and put it in the truck with me. I was taken into surgery and after that I don’t know anymore. They focused the surgery on my stomach. Is there a day that I don’t remember this? It has been 3 years and I remember it as though it happened today. There was one killed and a lot of injuries. I was the worse injury. The others are fine now and have returned to work. There were four attacks on police stations that day, all in the same day. And this is what Allah has written for me.

Saif Yusif Hanoun (born 1991), at his home with his brother in Al-Amil district of Baghdad. Injured on May 5, 2003 by American gunfire, resulting in a below the knee amputation. 'I was sick with a fever. It was 2pm and my uncle was taking me to the hospital. We were ascending a bridge and there was a man behind us trying to tell us to stop, but just as he did, it was too late, and we didn’t have time, the Americans hit us. I lost my leg fourteen days later. Depression. Everything is available, but depression is my problem. I have a bicycle; I keep falling off of it, so finally my mother broke it. I don’t want anything; I don’t want anything, just my leg.' Notes: Saif's mother says that Saif 'throws his fire (anger)' on his younger brother (age 9) because he is resentful of his brother's legs. Saif hits his brother on his legs saying, 'look at him, he's younger than me and he runs and plays ball, isn't he ashamed of himself?' Saif’s family sold their car and some land to pay for his surgeries. Saif’s father has left his family in Baghdad and is now remarried and living in the United Arab Emirates, he says he won’t return until there is security in the country.

Muaad Ibnayan Hadi (age 26, b.1980) on an examination table at The New Beginning prosthetic clinic in the Green Zone, March 2006. Injured at 11:30a.m.September 15, 2005 by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) resulting in a triple amputation. “It was a Thursday, and we were getting ready for a friend’s wedding at 10: 30 in the morning, we boarded a Costar transport van. We reached the New Baghdad Bridge and there was an Iraqi police convoy behind us. As soon as we reached the bridge there was a blast. An IED. I didn’t have any sense of myself. We were 18 all together, 3 died, 4 with injuries. I was the worse injury. After a while, I lifted my head and I knew that I was broken, but I didn’t know that my legs were gone. Then, I went into surgery. I lost my legs and my left hand. I had five operations. They cut one leg twice because of gangrene. My hand, they never found it in the van. The emergeny operation was no cost to me, but my family has paid for everything since. Every needle is 25,000 Dinars. I needed one a day. Then from day to day we would rent a taxi to take us to see various doctors. I just want to walk. I can’t go outside and see the world, and see my friends, I can’t. My soul can’t stand it. I can’t sleep because my mind is broken. I think a lot. I think of my crew, of going out, of walking, of what was before. I see my picture before. I become sad, this injury is difficult. I just want to walk. I had marriage on my mind before the accident. Her name is Athra, and I haven’t forgotten her. She came to visit me twice, but the distance is far for her. I want to walk so that I can get married.

in western Baghdad, March 2006. Above him are portraits of his late father and uncle. Injured February 4 2005 by American gunfire resulting in one leg amputation. “It was after lunch. We were five family members in the car, and there was a car in front of us. I didn’t even know there were Americans around. I opened the door and immediately there was fire. I thought it was a car bomb at first. There was gunfire for about ten minutes. The car had 56 bullet holes. I took five. The Iraqi Police came after. They gave us a pass to get into the American hospital. I did two surgeries in the Iraqi hospital instead. My leg was gone after just a few days. They couldn’t keep up with the loss of blood. They said if they didn’t cut it, my life would be endangered. I was ready to die. But you live for your children

Ali Yusif Karim, (age 29, b.1977) at home in the Sueb district of Baghdad, February 2006. Injured 9a.m, January 15, 2005 when his Iraqi army vehicle ran over an IED resulting in the amputation of his legs and the loss of his right index finger. “My sadness isn’t for myself. I am a soldier, I sign up to die, I expect to die, but the civilian who goes out and gets bread for his family, he’s a civilian, and he is being killed. My sadness is for this. I was in the National Army for a year and a half. In the beginning, there was more security. One morning we were out on duty, in a three-car convoy, I was driving in the second car. I was having problems with the car. We were on the New Baghdad highway. So the car in front of me was yelling at us for falling behind, I grabbed the radio to explain to him I was having problems with the car, and for just one moment I swerved to the left. Then the blast and the car flew. I sensed fire below me, so I threw myself and rolled, and a gun-battle followed the blast. At that time I didn’t pray, the first thing that came to mind is that I am going to die and I don’t pray. Next, I knew I was in Ibn Sina, the American’s hospital. My legs were hit hard, but not yet lost. First it was a short amputation. Then, they kept cutting them, and kept cutting, until this length now. I just wanted to die.