IRAQI CITIZEN POLL QUITE ALARMING

A VODI volunteer in Baghdad reported today that one of six Jordanian
university students recruited to take a random survey of Iraqi
civilians was stopped and questioned last week by a U.S. Army patrol.
After he explained what he was doing Khaled was detained for an hour
and then driven all the way to the Jordanian border and told to the
leave the country. He was released unharmed. The survey, conducted at
the request of VODI is designed to document the quality of life for
Iraqi children and asks only a dozen questions.

The Jordanian sociology students reported that of 600 Iraqi citizens
randomly selected and surveyed in Baghdad, 63% of them report losing
one or more family members to military attacks since the invasion,
and more than half of these casualties were civilian. The survey also
indicates that approximately 40% of all Iraqi children under age 10
lost one or more parents. 1 out of every five Iraqi children under
age 10 were orphaned by the war and/or subsequent occupation. In a
country of 25 million people, 45,000 civilian casualties have been
documented by project Iraq Body Count, but both the Red Crescent and
the Arab League believe the John Hopkins University/Lancet report of
600,000 deaths is "far more realistic". In his 27 year reign, Saddam
Hussein is alleged to have killed 100,000 Iraqis. Why coalition
soldiers are instructed not to conduct body counts remains an
unanswered question. "To date, we can extrapolate that between 5,000
and 8,000 Iraqi children have been kille
d by military actions since 1991" said VODI Chairman Bruce Gorcyca"
who added "We do not have the resources to investigate further, but
urge the Red Crescent, United Nations and Amnesty International to
conduct an official and proper casualty count to ascertain the
truth". VODI maintains that the world community demands
accountability for civilian deaths by foreign military forces.

The VODI poll also revealed that 72% of the Baghdad residents never
considered the invasion to be a "liberation" and want all foreigners
out of their country. 57% report that they are still without running
water and/or electricity in their homes, and the most disturbing poll
result shows that 78% of Iraqis felt "more secure and safe" before
the invasion than now. 28% of Iraqi children require medical
attention but have been waiting six months or longer to see a doctor.
Iraqi's biggest fear now seems to be that of years of forthcoming
civil war, vengeful death squads, and Muslim fundamentalists taking
control of the nation, much like the Taliban did in Afghanistan. 89%
of those surveyed say the negative effects of the invasion far
outweigh the removal of Saddam Hussein which only half of those
surveyed saw as a positive action. Of those polled, 52% were Shiite
Muslims, 23% were Suni Muslims and 25% refused to disclose their
religious affiliations. "While we do not condone su
icide bombings or other acts of indiscriminate terrorism, this poll
suggests that the growing "insurgency" may just be outraged citizens
seeking revenge for the death of their innocent children, parents, or
spouses" Gorcyca concluded.

Submitted By:

Paul Franklin
Public Information Office
Veteran Organ Donors International
117 Lakeshore Road East - Suite 339
Toronto, Ontario L5G-4T6
(905) 891-1981
EMAIL: VODI@mail.com