- Title: Bus serves as mobile school for displaced Iraqi children
- Date: 10th November 2016
- Summary: HABBANIYAH, IRAQ (RECENT) (REUTERS) CHILDREN RUNNING TOWARDS SCHOOL BUS BUS DRIVING TO THE SITE CHILDREN NEAR TENTS CLAPPING CHILDREN CHANTING (Arabic) ''BUS IS COMING'' AS BUS REVERSES CHILDREN WATCHING STAFF CARRYING CARPET WOMAN FROM "DARI" HUMANITARIAN ORGANISATION CARRYING WEDGE TO SET UP A TENT BY BUS VARIOUS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN QUEUING TO ENTER INTO BUS PUPILS GETTING INTO BUS CHILDREN IN CLASSROOM IN BUS VARIOUS OF CHILDREN IN CLASSROOM, WITH SIGNS PAINTED ON THEIR CHEEKS "DARI" STAFFERS ORGANISING PUPILS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FATHER OF PUPIL FROM BAIJI, ABBAS SHIMRAN, SAYING: ''This bus is very good and beneficial for our children. The pupils are happy to study in this bus. Thanks to almighty God. This bus is something good.'' VARIOUS OF STAFF DISTRIBUTING STATIONERY AND VISUAL AIDS TO PUPILS PUPILS WATCHING ANIMATION ON SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PUPIL, HANIN, SAYING: ''I learned reading and writing in both Arabic and English languages. I also learned drawing and talking.'' "DARI" PERSONNEL INTERACTING WITH CHILDREN IN TENT SET UP AROUND BUS CHILDREN LISTENING TO TEACHER VARIOUS OF TEACHER AND STUDENTS IN CLASSROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TEACHER, AHMED KHAMIS MUTAR, SAYING: ''Though we face danger and hardships when we come to teach the pupils, we are ready to offer services to children and to make them smile and see happiness on their faces.'' VARIOUS OF TEACHER WRITING ON WHITEBOARD BUS FLANKED BY TWO TENTS WHERE PUPILS ARE BEING TAUGHT
- Embargoed: 25th November 2016 09:57
- Keywords: Iraq Habbaniyah displaced children education bus
- Location: HABBANIYAH, IRAQ
- City: HABBANIYAH, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA00157UZMTX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The children clap and cheer as the "Sindbad Bus" arrives in the Habbaniyah camp in Iraq's Anbar province.
Staff from a humanitarian organisation promptly set up tents on the side of the bus that serves as a mobile classroom for children displaced due to the threat of Islamic State militants in the province.
The Habbaniyah camp, 89 kilometres (55 miles) west of Baghdad, houses hundreds of families who fled violence.
Many of them are unable to return to their hometowns despite the liberation of their towns either due to a lack of services or the destruction of their homes.
Abbas Shimran from Baiji town is among those who live in the camp, and his child goes to the mobile school.
''This bus is very good and beneficial for our children. The pupils are happy to study in this bus,'' he said.
''I learned reading and writing in both Arabic and English languages. I also learned drawing and talking fluently,'' said one student, Hanin.
Teachers say it is not an easy job, but one that brings them joy.
''Though we face danger and hardships when we come to teach the pupils, we are ready to offer services to children and to make them smile and see happiness on their faces,'' said teacher Ahmed Khamis Mutar.
The conflict with Islamic State group, which also controls large parts of neighbouring Syria, has forced more than 3.4 million Iraqis to flee their homes.
More than 40 percent of the displaced are from Anbar province, according to the United Nations. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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