Camp Liberty: Iraqi forces deprive residents of forklift trucks forcing them to carry heavy loads with their hands or on their backs

An anti-human torture in 21^st century that has caused residents severe orthopedic diseases

The Iraqi forces continue to prevent residents from using their own forklift trucks. As a result of this anti-human measure, residents are forced to carry heavy loads with their hands or on their backs. (Pictures enclosed)

After the Iraqi forces prevented the transfer of dozens of forklift trucks from Ashraf to Camp Liberty, following numerous referrals by the residents to the United States and the United Nations authorities, in a trilateral agreement in November 2012 between UNAMI, the residents, and the Iraqi government, two forklift trucks were transferred from Ashraf to Camp Liberty. The Iraqi forces refused to hand over these two forklift trucks to the residents and it was decided that the forklift trucks be kept at the police battalion to be given to the residents on a daily basis and returned back at the end of the work.

From the outset, the Iraqi intelligence hampered the daily use of the forklift trucks and in practice gave the forklifts trucks to residents only every few days. It is now, however, over four months that despite daily referrals by the residents, the Iraqi forces refuse to give them the forklift trucks. The Iraqi intelligence agents have taken the forklift trucks to their own place and are using them.

Obstructing residents from using their own forklift trucks as the simplest equipment to carry loads is nothing but an anti-human torture in the 21^st century. The residents are therefore coerced to constantly carry heavy loads with their hands or on their backs that during the recent months has caused severe backaches and hand aches, as well as osteo-diseases among many residents.