BAGHDAD, IRAQ – Why is it that terrorists have no compunction killing those who work for humanitarian organisations?
We owe a lot to the medical profession, especially nowadays as we are still dealing with COVID-19. Doctors, nurses and everyone else who works in this field have done Herculean deeds to save lives and make comfortable those who eventually succumbed to the disease. And this particular illness is just one of thousands that threaten humans every year.
It is also generally accepted that when it comes to war and conflict anyone in the medical industry is seen as out of bounds for retaliation. In other words, men and women who respond to injury and death on the battlefield are NOT supposed to be targeted. EVERYONE knows this.
Tell that to the terrorists.
On this day in 2003
Iraqis detonated car bombs outside the International Red Cross (ICRC) headquarters and five police stations across Baghdad, leaving around 40 people dead and more than 200 wounded. All of the attacks came within 45 minutes of each other and appeared to be carefully choreographed by Iraqi resistance guerrillas and timed to coincide with the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
We feel helpless when see this.
Iraqi doctor at the bomb site
The US said they thought ‘Saddam loyalists‘ were behind the attacks: I think it was more likely terrorists linked to Al Qaeda (AQ). In the wake of a heinous act of this nature Sir Nicholas Young, the chief executive of the British Red Cross, noted: “[to] have been deliberately targeted in this way is a great shock to us … [but] despite today’s attack we remain committed to helping the Iraqi people”.
Again, a great deal of thanks to those who mend and save. Too bad the terrorists don’t share this sentiment.
