Image by digidreamgrafix via ShutterStock- A recent report reveals that many of Iraq’s population who are in dire poverty have resorted to selling their organs for money
- The trading has become widespread that the government has been unable to restrain it
- An Arab newspaper claimed that even ISIS has resorted to participating in the black market, killing their wounded fighters for organs
What could be more heartbreaking?
In a report by Ahmed Maher of BBC, people are given a glimpse into what life is like for residents of Baghdad who are struggling with poverty.
One of the respondents in Maher’s research is Om Hussein. Hussein is a mother who is trying to make ends meet with her husband and their four children. She is only one among millions of people in Iraq who are doing the same.
It is extremely difficult for Om because her husband, Ali, is unemployed. It is especially difficult for him to get a job because of his heart problems and he is diabetic as well. Om has been the primary provider for the past nine years and she has almost reached her breaking point.
“I am tired and we cannot make any money to pay for the rent, medicine, children’s needs and food,” Ms Hussein said.
Just a few months ago, their house collapsed and they have only been able to get by with the help of friends and family.
“I worked at everything you could think of. As a butcher, a day labourer, a rubbish collector. I would not ask for money, but they would give it to us. I would not ask for food. I would tell my son to collect waste bread from the street and we would eat it, but I never asked for food or money,” Ali said.
As a result of the consistently challenging times, Om has resorted to selling her organs.
“I decided to sell my kidney, could no longer provide for my family. It was better than selling my body or living on charity,” she said.
The couple approached an illegal trader of organs to give their kidneys but the initial screening tests showed that their organs are not healthy enough for transplant. They were overcome with desperation to the point that they thought of selling even their own son’s kidney. They did not push through with it but the idea that they have resorted to such thoughts has left them so frustrated and heartbroken.
Sadly, organ trading has become a huge business for people in Baghdad. 2014’s statistics reported from the World Bank said that about 22.5% of Iraq’s total population of 30 million people are in extremely bad poverty.
Gangs offer up to $ 10,000 for one kidney and they have targeted the country’s poorest of the poor to be their market.
“The phenomenon is so widespread that authorities are not capable of fighting it,” said Firas al-Bayati, a human rights lawyer, told BBC; adding that he has personally “dealt over the past three months with 12 people who were arrested for selling their kidneys. And poverty was the reason behind their acts.”
Meanwhile, Daily Mail Co UK reported citing from the al-Sabah newspaper that the militant group, ISIS, have been killing some of their own to sell their organs and participate in the black market in Iraq. They allegedly kill the wounded ones.
This article has been viewed 43 times.
Post a Comment