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NewsApril 18, 2003

GENEVA -- Some patients in a Baghdad psychiatric hospital were raped as looters ransacked the building over a three-day spree, the Red Cross said Thursday, quoting the hospital's director. The director of Al-Rashad Hospital in eastern Baghdad told representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross the rapes took place as looters made off with nearly everything in the hospital -- burning what they could not take -- between April 9 and 11...

The Associated Press

GENEVA -- Some patients in a Baghdad psychiatric hospital were raped as looters ransacked the building over a three-day spree, the Red Cross said Thursday, quoting the hospital's director.

The director of Al-Rashad Hospital in eastern Baghdad told representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross the rapes took place as looters made off with nearly everything in the hospital -- burning what they could not take -- between April 9 and 11.

All 1,050 patients fled the hospital, the Red Cross said.

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"Only 300 patients have so far returned, but their living conditions are dire. The hospital lacks sufficient water, it has no water for washing or cleaning, meaning it is extremely dirty, and only very limited food is available for patients," the agency said.

"They stole everything from the hospital and from the office. They destroyed all the papers, all the files belonging to the patients and they stole all the furniture, even the food." hospital director Amir Abu said.

The Red Cross said it had provided 7,800 gallons of water for cleaning and drinking, as well as food and fuel.

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