Seeking Refuge in the Mountains

Kurds in Northern Iraq live in fear of Saddam Hussein. Genocide, torture, and unexplained disappearances are commonplace. They often seek refuge in the mountains and many do not survive the harsh conditions. The cities of Erbil and Sulaimanya are virtually empty of civilians except for government officials and the Kurdish militia. They need your help...

"It's quiet out here. You may not know there's a war except for hearing some bombings, but these people are extremely afraid mentally. They've got a very different psychological condition -- extreme fear and tension -- because of the chemical bombings that we experienced," said Jamal Sidig

Indeed, in Kurdistan, the daily reality is the possibility of being the next victim. People drive up to checkpoints wondering if a suicide bomber sits in the stalled car in front of them. A man walking down a Sulamaniyah sidewalk with his hands in his pocket might have his thumb on a detonator and a bomb wrapped around his stomach. The Turks announce that they need thousands of troops in Kurdistan for "humanitarian purposes" and it only elicits even more fear and distrust.

And always, the horrific memories of the Anfal Campaign in 1988 - and the fear that it will happen again - remain fresh (http://www.startribune.com/stories/1762/3790145.html).

For more about Kurds in Iraq, see KHRW's special report.

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