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Indybay Feature

Photos of a squatter comunity in Shawala, Iraq

by tristan
photos I took in Febuary of Iraqi squtters in the Baghdad neighborhood of Shawala.
1shwala.jpg
With the first stages of the war in Iraq over many people found themselves without homes or they lacked jobs and moved to Baghdad to search for work. Eviction is also a big problem in Iraq as land lords or armed groups evict tenants or raise the rent greatly to accomodate an influx of Iraqis returning from other countries. About 100 Shiite families took over a property that used to belong to Uday Husein (Saddam's son). I visited them several times in Feb. 2004 and found a very poor but vibrant community. They hope to raise money to build a school and are talking to NGO's as the main result of $16 billion in US funds has merely painted a bunch of already existing schools. Meanwhile 500 children wait.
§Girl with her little brother.
by tristan
2shawala.jpg
§Little girl and her sister.
by tristan
3shwala.jpg
§Two mothers in front of thier homes.
by tristan
5shawala.jpg
§Community leaders asking for money for a school.
by tristan
6shawala.jpg
They say if they get a school they will resist by any means necesarry to defend thier homes.
§squatter kids
by tristan
7shawala.jpg
§young girl
by tristan
8shawala.jpg
§younger girl
by tristan
9shawala.jpg
§boy and girl in front of thier house
by tristan
shawalaboygirl.jpg
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