Noor is quiet and soft-spoken. She only speaks when spoken to. She laughs often; folding in her lashes to hide her eyes.
Noor was crossing a bridge in a car with her mother and brother, on their way to visit an uncle at Abu Graib. An army tank drove up to them. Without warning, without a shout or even a shot fired in the air, an American soldier shot at them, hitting Noor in her left eye. Her mother was hit on the shoulder. Her brother lost his fingers.
The American soldier that shot at them only said he was sorry, gave them a bottle of war and drove away. Noor was rushed immediately to the hospital. She was given nothing there but weak painkillers, while her head throbbed with pain, liquid slowly dripping where her eye once was.
No representative from the American army or the American government came to offer apologies or compensation for the accident.
Noor’s family had to spend their own savings to pay for the doctor’s visits and medication. Noor’s father drives a taxi in Fallujah, making barely enough to provide for the entire family, let alone pay for unanticipated medical expenses. Without the assistance of a non-profit medical organization, Noor and her family could never have afforded the plastic eye surgery.
Noor never imagined this would happen to her. She was young; only 16 years old. She was still studying and engaged to be married. When the accident happened, she suggested canceling the engagement. But her fiancé refused, insisting he would stick by her side.
But her husband soon divorced her, unable to cope with all the stares and gossip. Even Noor’s own son, now three years old, refuses for her to feed or touch him. He points at her left eye and runs away to her mother.
Noor’s mother sits beside her, tears brimming in her eyes. They were living in security when the Americans came to occupy Iraq. Now look at what has happened. Life is too difficult now in Iraq.
Noor, like many others, expected the Americans to bring democracy to their country. Now there is only chaos. She understands firsthand when American forces say their actions are mistaken. They could have shot in the air; they could have shot at the wheel of the car; but the American that shot them, shot at them directly.
Noor and her mother have been in Jordan for three months now for her medical check-up. They will return to Fallujah on Friday. Noor cannot stay here. Although she was able to gain refugee status through the UNHCR, her son is still in Iraq. There is no way she can bring him here. Noor’s mother cannot stay either. Her entire family including her other three young children are still in Iraq and are unable to enter Jordan.
Noor was crossing a bridge in a car with her mother and brother, on their way to visit an uncle at Abu Graib. An army tank drove up to them. Without warning, without a shout or even a shot fired in the air, an American soldier shot at them, hitting Noor in her left eye. Her mother was hit on the shoulder. Her brother lost his fingers.
The American soldier that shot at them only said he was sorry, gave them a bottle of war and drove away. Noor was rushed immediately to the hospital. She was given nothing there but weak painkillers, while her head throbbed with pain, liquid slowly dripping where her eye once was.
No representative from the American army or the American government came to offer apologies or compensation for the accident.
Noor’s family had to spend their own savings to pay for the doctor’s visits and medication. Noor’s father drives a taxi in Fallujah, making barely enough to provide for the entire family, let alone pay for unanticipated medical expenses. Without the assistance of a non-profit medical organization, Noor and her family could never have afforded the plastic eye surgery.
Noor never imagined this would happen to her. She was young; only 16 years old. She was still studying and engaged to be married. When the accident happened, she suggested canceling the engagement. But her fiancé refused, insisting he would stick by her side.
But her husband soon divorced her, unable to cope with all the stares and gossip. Even Noor’s own son, now three years old, refuses for her to feed or touch him. He points at her left eye and runs away to her mother.
Noor’s mother sits beside her, tears brimming in her eyes. They were living in security when the Americans came to occupy Iraq. Now look at what has happened. Life is too difficult now in Iraq.
Noor, like many others, expected the Americans to bring democracy to their country. Now there is only chaos. She understands firsthand when American forces say their actions are mistaken. They could have shot in the air; they could have shot at the wheel of the car; but the American that shot them, shot at them directly.
Noor and her mother have been in Jordan for three months now for her medical check-up. They will return to Fallujah on Friday. Noor cannot stay here. Although she was able to gain refugee status through the UNHCR, her son is still in Iraq. There is no way she can bring him here. Noor’s mother cannot stay either. Her entire family including her other three young children are still in Iraq and are unable to enter Jordan.
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