In April 2004 four American mercenary soldiers were killed in Fullaja, days later the US army invaded to “bring to justice” the perpetrators. Their homes and lives threatened a few Fallujans fought back, many tried to escape to safety, whilst others hid in their homes sitting the illegal attack out. Thousands of civilians were injured and more than eight hundred Fallujans died in a few days. Collective punishment is illegal under the Geneva Convention.

The hospitals recorded 1200 casualties with between 500-600 dead in the first five days of fighting, 86 of them children killed in the first three days of the US offensive.

Collateral Damage

Screaming women come in, “Ummi” – my mother – one cries as we approach a bed where a child of about ten is lying with a bullet wound to his head. His younger brother is in the same condition in the next bed, both dying along with their grandmother, all three hit by a US sniper as they left their home to flee Falluja.

While I Was at the Flea Market....

Sergeant Tratner

A convoy of aid vehicles flying Red Crescent flags approaches a United States military checkpoint on the road to Falluja and hesitates. “We don’t like to encourage them” Sergeant Tratner of the First Armoured Division explains.

“Haven’t you got translators” we ask.

Sergeant Tratner raises his rifle and aims at the lead vehicle in the convoy, clicking off the safety. “I got the best translator in the world”.

The aid convoy turns away to return to Baghdad, only one ambulance comes with us.

The Twins

The twins, 13 years old, one an ambulance driver, both said to be handy with a Kalashnikov.

Sa'ad

Sa’ad fetches us a white flag and tells us not to worry, that peace is upon us and he’s checked and secured the road, this eleven year old child whose AK47 is almost as tall as he is, his face covered with a keffiyah all that shows is his bright brown eyes.