J.B. Russell

Projects: Iraqi Victims of Violence

Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the country has been the theater of frequent, indiscriminate and deadly attacks on the civilian population. Ravaged by years of embargo, war and the flight into exile of large numbers of qualified medical personnel, the Iraqi health system struggles to handle the flood of injured and to assure the conditions necessary to treat them. Seriously wounded victims of violent attacks have not received the vital medical attention they need to recover. No one knows the number of mutilated, crippled survivors who have been living for months or years with infected wounds. In addition to physical handicaps, victims also suffer from the loss of work, stigmatization, the human and financial burden supported by family members and often the pain of having lost one or more family members. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) has financed and developed a highly specialized plastic and orthopedic surgery program in Jordan that has treated over 1500 severely injured victims, giving them re-constructed faces, re-established motor functions or the capacity to exercise the simple gestures of daily life that had been lost for a long time.

Minerettes over the cityscape of Amman at sunset.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Iraqis outside a hotel where they live while receiving medical treatment in a program run by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) that treats victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Iraqis outside a hotel where they live while receiving medical treatment in a program run by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) that treats victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Qusay Saleh Hussein, 23, lost his eye sight and was severely injured when a car bomb exploded near where he was playing vollyball with friends in his neighborhood. He is receiving medical treatment in a program run by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) that treats victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Qusay Saleh Hussein, 23, lost his eye sight and was severely injured when a car bomb exploded near where he was playing vollyball with friends in his neighborhood. He is receiving medical treatment in a program run by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) that treats victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Leila Dier Hassan sustained severe injuries to her legs and arm when a rocket fell on her house during clashes between US forces and Mehdi Army militias. Her husband, son and daughter were killed in the attack. She is being treated in a program run by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) that cares for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Leila Dier Hassan sustained severe injuries to her legs and arm when a rocket fell on her house during clashes between US forces and Mehdi Army militias. Her husband, son and daughter were killed in the attack. She is being treated in a program run by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) that cares for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Young Iraqi and Yemeni men at a hotel provided by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to house patients who are being treated in a program to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Haneen Mohammed Abdullah, 19, was severely burned on her face, chest and arms when a truck bomb exploded as she stepped out of a car to buy ice cream in Baghdad. She is receiving medical treatment in a program run by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) that treats victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
A patient rests at a hotel provided by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) for victims of violence in Iraq and throughout the region whose injuries can not be treated in their own country. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Young Iraqi men during a psycho-social group session at a hotel provided by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) where patients live while being treated at a hospital rented and equipped by MSF to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Ali Amad Jabar, 15, was severely burned on his face, chest and arms when he and his brother went to the market in Basra to buy a bicycle and a car bomb exploded nearby. He is receiving medical treatment in a program run by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) that treats victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Patients and medical staff in a hospital ward rented and equipped by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to treat Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Nada Dahan, from Yemen, was shot in the right arm during confrontations between government and opposition forces. Her humerus was shattered and has not healed. She is in a hospital ward rented and equipped by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to treat Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Surgeons prepare to operate on patients at a hospital rented and equipped by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Orthopedic surgeons operating on a patient at a hospital rented and equipped by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
An orthopedic surgeon looking in on an operation at a hospital rented and equipped by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Orthopedic surgeons operating on a patient at a hospital rented and equipped by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Surgeons wheeling a patient into the operating theatre at a hospital rented and equipped by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Hawser Haseeb Jalal, 16, in her hospital room awaiting surgery. She was severely burned in a domestic explosion in Kirkuk. She is being treated in a hospital rented and equipped byMedécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Hawser Haseeb Jalal, 16, in her hospital room awaiting surgery. She was severely burned in a domestic explosion in Kirkuk. She is being treated in a hospital rented and equipped byMedécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Plastic surgeons placing skin graphs on a severe burn victim at a hospital rented and equipped by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Plastic surgeons placing skin graphs on a severe burn victim at a hospital rented and equipped by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Plastic surgeons placing skin graphs on a severe burn victim at a hospital rented and equipped by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
A patient lies in bed at a hospital rented and equipped by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Iraqis arrive at a hotel provided by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) where patients live while being treated at a hospital rented and equipped by MSF to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
An Iraqi patient going through physical therapy at a hotel provided by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) where patients live while being treated at a hospital rented and equipped by MSF to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Khanda Faraj Mohammed, 27, mother of three and pregnant with her fourth child was severely burned in a car bomb explotion while shopping in the market of Kirkuk. She is being treated in a program run by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) that cares for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Iraqi patients in their room at a hotel provided by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) where patients live while being treated at a hospital rented and equipped by MSF to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Iraqi patients in their room at a hotel where they live while receiving medical treatment in a program run by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) that treats victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
An Iraqi patient at a hotel provided by Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) for patients being treated at a hospital rented and equipped by MSF to care for Iraqi victims of violence whose injuries can not be treated inside Iraq. The program is now beginning to receive patients from Yemen, Syria, Egypt and Libya in addition to Iraqis.Amman, Jordan.Photo © J.B. Russell