- Title: Iraqi children in Debaga camp dream of school after repressive Islamic State rule
- Date: 28th October 2016
- Summary: DEBAGA, NEAR ERBIL, IRAQ (OCTOBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) SIGN READING (Kurdish, Arabic and English): UNHCR, DEBAGA CAMP VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ALONG A ROAD IN CAMP VARIOUS OF CHILDREN GATHERED IN AN ALLEYWAY IN CAMP TEENAGERS SITTING AGAINST A WALL CHILDREN GATHERED IN CAMP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) 10-YEAR-OLD DISPLACED BOY, AMMAR, SAYING: "We have not been to school since Daesh (a commonly used Arabic acronym for Islamic State) arrived. They would not let us go to school, they hit all the students and bombed the school. When we were in Howeija, we used to go to school, but they bombed it." CHILDREN STANDING AGAINST A WALL HOLDING UP VICTORY SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) 17-YEAR-OLD DISPLACED BOY, SUFIYAN, SAYING: "My dream is to just go to school and to then work in whatever job God has planned for me. I want to help rebuild the country, if we remain divided (our country) will be ruined. We have to work hand in hand to become better. We came from darkness, we do not want to return to darkness. We want to go back to school, to ensure our future. We are very tired, the Iraqi people have suffered a lot." WOMEN AND CHILDREN GATHERED NEAR A HOME GIRLS FIGHTING OVER SOME TOYS VARIOUS OF A YOUNG BOY SELLING TOILETRIES WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN A STREET IN THE CAMP VARIOUS OF A BOY CARRYING A PLATE OF FOOD YOUNG GIRL CARRYING HER BROTHER ON HER BACK
- Embargoed: 12th November 2016 09:47
- Keywords: Debaga Erbil Iraq refigee camp children Islamic State education school
- Location: DEBAGA, NEAR ERBIL, IRAQ
- City: DEBAGA, NEAR ERBIL, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00155X5YRR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Iraqi children living in the Debaga refugee camp, 40 km south of Erbil, said on Friday (October 28) they dream of going back to school after years of not being able to attend under Islamic State rule.
The overcrowded camp is home to 31,000 people, but hundreds more are arriving daily since an operation to retake Mosul from Islamic State began.
At least 50 percent of refugees fleeing the operation will be children, UNICEF Middle East regional Director said to Reuters on Sunday (October 23).
One boy who escaped with his family from Islamic State rule in Howeija said the militants would not allow them to go to school.
"We have not been to school since (a commonly used Arabic acronym for Islamic State) arrived. They would not let us go to school, they hit all the students and bombed the school. When we were in Howeija, we used to go to school, but they bombed it," said 10-year-old Ammar.
The Mosul campaign, which aims to crush the Iraqi half of Islamic State's declared caliphate in Iraq and Syria, may become the biggest battle yet in the 13 years of turmoil triggered by the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and could require a massive humanitarian relief operation. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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