MIDDLE EAST, 8 January (IRIN) - IRAQ: Salwa Muhammad, Iraq "This will be the last polio campaign of my life"

IRAQ: Muhammad Abdel Kader, Iraq, "I never made so many coffins a day"

IRAQ: Suspension of Red Crescent work could affect the lives of thousands

IRAQ: New initiative brings no hope for Iraqis

IRAQ: Aid agencies call for respect from armed groups

IRAQ: Palestinian refugees fear for their lives after recent attack

JORDAN: Noora Nadi, Jordan, "Nobody cares about refugees from Gaza"

LEBANON: Rate of cluster bomb casualties falling

OPT: Huda Mohammed al-Awadi, OPT "I can't believe I'm still alive"

OPT: Gaza violence shuts schools

YEMEN: Somali community concerned over migrant deaths

IRAQ: Salwa Muhammad, Iraq "This will be the last polio campaign of my life"

"I am a 32-year-old Iraqi widow with three children. Seven years ago I started working with UNICEF [the UN Children's Agency], giving anti-polio vaccines to thousands of children. But my life has changed drastically in the past two years as my work has become dangerous because now I get threats at least once every two months. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56805 and SelectRegion=Middle_East and SelectCountry=IRAQ

IRAQ: Muhammad Abdel Kader, Iraq, "I never made so many coffins a day"

"My name is Muhammad Abdel Kader. I am 36 years old and live in the Ejidida neighbourhood of Baghdad with my parents, wife and only son. I have lived in Baghdad all my life. I have been making coffins since I was 24 to help with the family income. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56799 and SelectRegion=Middle_East and SelectCountry=IRAQ

IRAQ: Suspension of Red Crescent work could affect the lives of thousands

The lives of thousands of Iraqis are going to be adversely affected by the Iraqi Red Crescent Society's (IRCS) decision on Monday to suspend its activities in Baghdad, according to doctors, humanitarian workers and ordinary Iraqis who depend on the organisation for their survival. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56784 and SelectRegion=Middle_East and SelectCountry=IRAQ

IRAQ: New initiative brings no hope for Iraqis

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's new olive branch to reinstate former army officers and soldiers was "too little, too late" and more steps should be taken to ensure peace for this war-ravaged country, an analyst said. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56789 and SelectRegion=Middle_East and SelectCountry=IRAQ

IRAQ: Aid agencies call for respect from armed groups

Ahmed Hussam (not his real name), 32, was shell-shocked after his colleagues were kidnapped on Sunday while on duty in the Iraqi Red Crescent Society's (IRCS) office in the capital, Baghdad. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56769 and SelectRegion=Middle_East and SelectCountry=IRAQ

IRAQ: Palestinian refugees fear for their lives after recent attack

Palestinian refugees living in Iraq say there is increasing fear in their community after a recent attack on a predominantly Palestinian Baghdad neighbourhood left nine people dead and several injured, including children. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56763 and SelectRegion=Middle_East and SelectCountry=IRAQ

JORDAN: Noora Nadi, Jordan, "Nobody cares about refugees from Gaza"

Widow Noora Nadi, 40, a Palestinian refugee living in Baqaa camp, 20 km west of Amman, is struggling to make ends meet to support her three children after her husband died two years ago. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56764 and SelectRegion=Middle_East and SelectCountry=JORDAN

LEBANON: Rate of cluster bomb casualties falling

Despite one man being killed and two injured from an explosion on Tuesday in the southern Lebanese village of Marjayoun, mine clearance specialists say that the incidence of cluster bomb casualties in the country has fallen significantly over recent weeks. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56794 and SelectRegion=Middle_East and SelectCountry=LEBANON

OPT: Huda Mohammed al-Awadi, OPT "I can't believe I'm still alive"

Twelve-year-old Huda Mohammed al-Awadi is recovering on the fourth floor of Gaza City's Shifa hospital, after being shot by gunmen on 11 December.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56765 and SelectRegion=Middle_East and SelectCountry=OPT

OPT: Gaza violence shuts schools

Thousands of Gaza children stayed away from class on Sunday and Monday after the United Nations closed schools to protect staff and pupils from rampant street violence. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56767 and SelectRegion=Middle_East and SelectCountry=OPT

YEMEN: Somali community concerned over migrant deaths The Somali community in Yemen has expressed mounting concern for the fate of its fellow citizens following reports in the past few days that up to five had been killed by smugglers while trying to cross the Gulf of Aden and one shot dead by Yemeni authorities a day earlier. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56762 and SelectRegion=Middle_East and SelectCountry=YEMEN

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