IRAQ: UPDATE FROM THE FIELD

May 12, 2015

War in Iraq took everything from Dr Adnan but not his human dignity or sense of solidarity.

As he’s telling us his story, Adnan’s eyes are glistening with tears. For him, medicine is more than a passion: it’s his life. He’s been treating people for 40 years and now he’s doing it alongside our staff in Qoratu, Iraq, in one of the Health Centres for refugees that we’ve set up in the north of the country.

One day, while we were working in the Mobile Clinic, he lowered his voice and began his story. “It was about nine months ago. A day just like any other. I’d finished seeing my patients in Jalawla, my city. For many of them I’d made appointments for the next day for further examinations, but that same evening the fighting arrived right on our doorstep. My wife, my four children and I had to escape immediately, leaving behind everything: home, hospital, patients… Jalawla is now a ghost town without electricity or water. Nobody lives there any more.”

Adnan now lives as a refugee in a little town near Kalar and he comes here every day to help treat the many people in need of help. He welcomes everyone with a kind word and a smile. The war took everything from him, not his human dignity or sense of solidarity. For all of us, working with him day after day is a source of great learning.

Thank you, Doctor Adnan.