Iraqi Armed Forces fight natural disasters while simultaneously fighting Daesh
ISRAA KHALID/IRAQI MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
The primary mission of the military is to defend the nation against external threats and to enforce security and sovereignty. Many militaries are assigned specific tasks as part of their daily routine; however, the Iraqi military has performed its duties beyond the capabilities of many conventional militaries.
In addition to its furious war against Daesh, Iraq’s Armed Forces provide humanitarian assistance to displaced people and secure towns close to battlespaces, conducting new types of missions completely different from the image we have in our minds of strong, ruthless and intimidating fighters who plant fear in the heart of their enemies.
Today we’ve developed a new image about Soldiers sacrificing and sharing concerns with the rest of the nation. As a result of the heavy rains that fell in November 2015, Baghdad experienced major damage from widespread flooding. In response, the Iraqi military was deployed to assist civil defense workers and other agencies to help citizens, open roads, rescue families in inundated neighborhoods and remove floodwaters. The Ministry of Defense was on high alert to help with this natural disaster.
“As instructed by the commander in chief and directed by the minister of defense, the brave men of the 11th Army Division, with cooperation of other agencies, launched the largest rescue and assistance operation to help the flood damaged areas of Sadr City, Ur, Shaab and Jamila,” said Maj. Gen. Saib Oubaid Mahsan, commander of the 11th Army Division. The first task was to drain the floodwater that significantly damaged many residences and public facilities. We deployed 91 tankers owned by the division.”
The general noted that problems with the Army Canal — traditionally the main conduit to drain floodwater — made the rescue efforts even more of a challenge. But the military overcame those problems. “Our elements, working day and night, continued working until we drained the water and made sure our citizens and their properties were safe and secured,” he said.
The team also interviewed one of the Soldiers who was deployed, Kadim Jabar: “All of the brave men in the Iraqi military continued serving their nation. What we are doing today is honorable duty, and we are determined never to leave the city until we drain all the water.”
IRAQI MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
Many Iraqi citizens expressed gratitude and appreciation for their Armed Forces, which are simultaneously fighting a most vicious enemy and providing support and assistance to the local citizens during a natural disaster. “Draining the floodwater is not the military’s duty, but what our heroes are doing today shows their love and loyalty to Iraq,” Baghdad resident Jasim Ismail said. “This is not a surprise. The Iraqi Soldier proved during the course of history that he is willing to sacrifice for a stable and secure Iraq.”
Other citizens reported that the military provided them with food and dry blankets, removed them from harm’s way and helped them return home after the water receded. “This is not new for our great military; in the past, they participated in similar events and provided significant assistance to the Iraqis and saved many lives,” resident Ali Almahmdawi said.
Another displaced resident, Um Ahmad, recalled being rescued by the military: “I will never forget the honorable action of our Soldiers as they carried my children on their shoulders to cross the deep water. I was so proud to see our military men carry children across streets that had turned into a wild river with strong currents and frigid water.”
Mohamad Jumaa, a young man from Sadr City, added his own story: “In 2013, I saw on TV how our brave Soldiers conducted rescue missions to evacuate citizens of Tikrit after a massive flood. I saw our Soldiers putting their lives in danger to save civilian lives. I was astonished to see them rescue even the livestock back then. Today I see the same Soldiers repeating their honorable and brave duty in my city. My salute and respect to them.”
While Mohamad told his story, an elderly man named Abu Ali chimed in with an even older anecdote about the bold conduct of Iraqi forces in the face of disaster. “During the severe flood of 1954, when Iraqi forces were deployed in Baghdad to help residents, they provided tents, food, clothes and blankets as well as built trenches to constrain the floodwater,” Abu Ali said. “They saved thousands of lives. Whatever the heroes of the past have done, I see it repeated by the heroes of today.”
The brave and honorable role of our Armed Forces suggests that our military is protecting and serving our people, whether it’s by fighting Daesh, protecting the integrity of our nation, providing aid to civilians during natural disasters or supporting other agencies that serve our citizens.
Regional disaster response
Autumnal rains — including two unprecedented hurricanes fed by the warm waters of the Arabian Sea — demanded a courageous response from military and civilian emergency officials throughout the Middle East.
The downpours in October and November 2015 dropped a year’s worth of rain over just a few days, leaving streets and neighborhoods flooded in places as dispersed as Jordan, Qatar, Yemen, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
As roads were swallowed by floods in Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia closed schools for a couple of days. In Doha, a November 25 storm brought more rain in two hours than Qatar usually receives in a year.
Most threatening of all, tropical cyclones named Chapala and Megh churned through the Arabian Sea and struck the Yemeni island of Socotra before curving toward the Arabian Peninsula. Dozens died when the freak storms deposited up to 10 years’ worth of rain in parts of the country.
To help domestic rescue operations in all the affected countries, many countries contributed aid to some of the worst-hit disaster areas.
For example, the United Arab Emirates; Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation sent at least 100 tons of food to Socotra. The Emirates Red Crescent, under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, UAE president, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the Armed Forces, sent hundreds of tons of food as well as medical supplies, blankets, tents and diesel fuel.
Additionally, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies supplied Yemen with necessities such as water purification tablets and mattresses.
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