Mosul, Iraq

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Ruskie

Original Poster:

3,982 posts

199 months

Saturday 7th October 2017
quotequote all
Just returned from my second trip to Iraq working in a trauma stabilisation point. I was based near Hawija which is being reported as being liberated in the last couple of days. I will attach a few pictures from my trip. Due to the independence vote in Kurdistan the Iraq army have suspended all international flights out of Erbil, consequently I have just had a 4 flight, 40 hour trip home!!

My particular highlight this trip was arriving at a new base for the TSP next to a family of 9. They had been under IS control for 3 years and had literally being liberated 3 hours before our arrival. We gave the kids, attention, biscuits and make shift toys. They had never seen a westerner let alone one that smiled and played with them! The men were clean shaved for the first time in 3 years. An example of the misery inflicted by IS was the family had no soap for 14 months. A single bar was going for $15, a fortune for a poor family. The children had skin complaints from poor hygiene.





One of the TSP house we used. We moved 5 times in total due to chasing the ever moving front line!







Ruskie

Original Poster:

3,982 posts

199 months

Saturday 7th October 2017
quotequote all
We explored a school that IS had destroyed. Here was a room they had burned books they deemed unsuitable.



They also left pro IS graffiti on the board.



Bed was mostly on the roof as we were out of mortar range.



One of the locals!



I have a few images of bad injuries and the stories behind them. I might put them up if people are interested in that side of it?

All in all I had another incredible experience, I find the Iraqi people to be warm and hospitable. They are very grateful for the help.

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

136 months

Saturday 7th October 2017
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Glad to see you got back ok, nice one


what was the on the ground reaction to the kurdish vote?

Ruskie

Original Poster:

3,982 posts

199 months

Saturday 7th October 2017
quotequote all
citizensm1th said:
Glad to see you got back ok, nice one


what was the on the ground reaction to the kurdish vote?
Nervous. It’s bubbling under. I believe Baghdad banned the Kurdish politicians from entering the national parliament. I can see a scrap brewing based around Kirkup. It’s a city responsible for half of Iraq oil production and Home to 1m Kurds. It’s under Iraq government control though and is clearly an important economic and strategic place.

CharlesdeGaulle

26,091 posts

179 months

Saturday 7th October 2017
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Welcome back! Great thread, and good on yer!

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

136 months

Saturday 7th October 2017
quotequote all
Ruskie said:
Nervous. It’s bubbling under. I believe Baghdad banned the Kurdish politicians from entering the national parliament. I can see a scrap brewing based around Kirkup. It’s a city responsible for half of Iraq oil production and Home to 1m Kurds. It’s under Iraq government control though and is clearly an important economic and strategic place.
i kinda had a forlorn hope that they would be able to agree something with out fighting.

very proud of people like yourself though chap


Ruskie

Original Poster:

3,982 posts

199 months

Sunday 8th October 2017
quotequote all
citizensm1th said:
Glad to see you got back ok, nice one


what was the on the ground reaction to the kurdish vote?
Nervous. It’s bubbling under. I believe Baghdad banned the Kurdish politicians from entering the national parliament. I can see a scrap brewing based around Kirkup. It’s a city responsible for half of Iraq oil production and Home to 1m Kurds. It’s under Iraq government control though and is clearly an important economic and strategic place.

Ruskie

Original Poster:

3,982 posts

199 months

Sunday 8th October 2017
quotequote all
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
Day to day life for the majority of Iraqis in the north is improved now they are free from IS control and their brutality but as a country there is so much to be done. Mosul especially, the infrastructure is destroyed. Massive swathes of houses are either destroyed or abandoned as are the roads and bridges. The elephant in the room is Kurdistan and I can see massive issues arising once IS are chased out.

I think the charity I went with are going to try and get some corporate sponsorship and try and put Health packs together. Otherwise it’s very difficult to get supplies out there.

Ruskie

Original Poster:

3,982 posts

199 months

Sunday 8th October 2017
quotequote all
This house was our 4th house and had evidently being occupied by IS.



I found the following abandoned and decided they would make a macabre keepsake. OS prayer beads, Koran and old Iraqi/Syrian money.






Ruskie

Original Poster:

3,982 posts

199 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
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Bomb disposal Iraq style!!

https://youtu.be/Lhe_v0levUA

K50 DEL

9,227 posts

227 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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Ruskie said:
Bomb disposal Iraq style!!

https://youtu.be/Lhe_v0levUA
All the while repeating

"I must not trip up"
"I must not trip up"
"I must not trip up"

Fair play, the bravery of the people living through this on a daily basis is incredible.

Legend83

9,947 posts

221 months

Tuesday 23rd January 2018
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Just wanted to add my admiration hat to the ring - a truly meaningful contribution to the human race. clap

Any more pics?

Ruskie

Original Poster:

3,982 posts

199 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
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Just received confirmation today that I’m going out to Syria in near future helping run a mobile TSP/Clinic. Fingers crossed things don’t escalate with the west as I could see it getting shelved. I will take lots of pictures and upload when I return.

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

136 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
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Good luck and keep yourself safe chap

CharlesdeGaulle

26,091 posts

179 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
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Ruskie said:
Just received confirmation today that I’m going out to Syria in near future helping run a mobile TSP/Clinic. Fingers crossed things don’t escalate with the west as I could see it getting shelved. I will take lots of pictures and upload when I return.
Crikey chum. This is a step-up from what you did in Iraq. I'm sure you don't need me to say this, but you really need to think this through very carefully. I can't caution against this enough.

Ruskie

Original Poster:

3,982 posts

199 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
quotequote all
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Ruskie said:
Just received confirmation today that I’m going out to Syria in near future helping run a mobile TSP/Clinic. Fingers crossed things don’t escalate with the west as I could see it getting shelved. I will take lots of pictures and upload when I return.
Crikey chum. This is a step-up from what you did in Iraq. I'm sure you don't need me to say this, but you really need to think this through very carefully. I can't caution against this enough.
I find the scenes of human suffering abhorrent over there. I have the ability to make a tiny, tiny difference to people who are helpless so I’m going to go for it. It’s not for everyone and people will wonder why, but if everyone turned a blind eye the world would be a worse place.

Stuart70

3,910 posts

182 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
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Equilibrium25 said:
hornetrider said:
Respect, chap. Respect.
+1

In awe of your commitment Ruskie, and thanks for posting. A PH gem amongst the dross.
Absolutely this.

irocfan

40,152 posts

189 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
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I doff my cap to you sir. You are truly a better (and braver) individual than I

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

136 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
quotequote all
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Ruskie said:
Just received confirmation today that I’m going out to Syria in near future helping run a mobile TSP/Clinic. Fingers crossed things don’t escalate with the west as I could see it getting shelved. I will take lots of pictures and upload when I return.
Crikey chum. This is a step-up from what you did in Iraq. I'm sure you don't need me to say this, but you really need to think this through very carefully. I can't caution against this enough.
I have to admit this was my first thought as well. But He has been in some highly dangerous areas before and seems to know what he is doing and without people like Him people who could live may very well die.

Without Humanitarians like Ruskie the world would be a much darker place.

Please do not take this as an attack on you CDG as that is not my intention as i share your doubts about going to Syria the man has balls of steel.

TwigtheWonderkid

43,248 posts

149 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
quotequote all
Ruskie said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Ruskie said:
Just received confirmation today that I’m going out to Syria in near future helping run a mobile TSP/Clinic. Fingers crossed things don’t escalate with the west as I could see it getting shelved. I will take lots of pictures and upload when I return.
Crikey chum. This is a step-up from what you did in Iraq. I'm sure you don't need me to say this, but you really need to think this through very carefully. I can't caution against this enough.
I find the scenes of human suffering abhorrent over there. I have the ability to make a tiny, tiny difference to people who are helpless so I’m going to go for it. It’s not for everyone and people will wonder why, but if everyone turned a blind eye the world would be a worse place.
You're a braver man than me. I wouldn't go to Syria on Google Streetview!!!