Why were you and so many Kuwaitis in London on August 2, 1990?
Kuwaitis travel abroad in summer when it’s hot, humid, and sometimes dusty.
Temperatures can soar to 50ºC (125ºF). Most Kuwaitis go to Egypt, Lebanon,
or London, but some go to continental Europe, Turkey, or the Far East. In 1990
some Kuwaitis were in London on vacation, but also many arrived during the
occupation. My mother, my family, and I had been in the US in July. On our way
back to Kuwait, we stopped in London for few days as two of my sisters and
their families were there. Then the invasion occurred so we all had to stay on in
London. There, the Free Kuwait Campaign was organized and I became their
volunteer photographer.
How did you feel when you heard Iraq had invaded Kuwait?
It was a shock for everyone, but, for people outside Kuwait – and I was one
of them – it was like being caught in an unbelievable bad dream. We had not
heard all the talk and threats that Saddam had made, though sometimes we
heard rumors or a bit of American news. I would then call home to talk to one
of my two brothers and tell him what is on the news. His always answered not
to worry, that it was not serious. Well, it was serious, and it took me around 10
days to realize the invasion was not a dream.
Did you expect the invasion to last only a few days or weeks?
Yes. Many people did. First we thought Saddam wanted to show his power to
give him the upper hand in negotiations. Then we thought he wanted money
and, as soon as our government gave him some, he would leave. But the more
time passed, the more we felt disappointment and dread. When the coalition
nations started sending troops, we knew the time had come though not exactly
how soon it would be.
Were close relatives in Kuwait during the occupation?
Most of our relatives were in Kuwait on August 2. About half of them left Kuwait
during the first weeks and some got out after a month or so. They left first
through Iran, then to the UAE. Some stayed in the UAE and others joined us in
London. They left with forged IDs that gave them other nationalities to make it
easier to flee. The forgeries were “official,” that is, they were obtained from the
police or army and stamped by government ministers. Both of my brothers and
one of my sisters remained in Kuwait.
When Saddam formally annexed Kuwait, did you fear it was permanent?
At no time did I think it was permanent. The only question was how long the
occupation would last. |
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After liberation, when did you return to Kuwait?
My family and I left London around March 11 and went to Dubai, where I rented
an apartment and stayed for few days with my wife and children. After I made
sure they had all they needed, I prepared for the 1,150 km drive to Kuwait.
I heard from friends that only people with goods to deliver were allowed into
Kuwait. So, I bought a small truck and filled it with food, bottled water, and five
portable generators as I had heard Kuwait had no electricity. I drove to Saudi
Arabia and got permission in Damam to cross into Kuwait. I arrived on the
morning of March 24. (See 0387-0391.)
What conditions did you find in the country?
At first, other than that Kuwait looked like an empty city with a dark sky in
daytime, things looked a lot better than I expected. But after I spent few days
entering houses and public buildings, seeing the tremendous destruction inside,
and hearing stories from many friends and relatives, I saw the real picture.
Kuwait had been raped – marred on the outside but, even more so, shattered
on the inside. Food and drink were plentiful, but there were mounds of garbage
everywhere and no electricity. When I arrived, I went first to my house and,
after resting, around 3 pm I went to check on my in-laws. Just as I said “Salaam
alaikum” (“peace be with you”) to my in-laws, the lights came on.
My in-laws had two houses, one which they had lived in for the last 40 years
and another they had just finished building but not yet moved into. The old
house was fine because they had lived in it during the invasion. The new one
was a wreck. The Iraqis had moved into it and turned it into a fortification.
Then a few days before liberation, they moved out and ignited the ammunition
they had stowed in the basement. My in-laws never lived in that house. They
restored it, but my father-in-law died before they could move in.
Was your home spared from looting and vandalism?
At the beginning, my home like many homes was looted. All my cameras and
electrical goods were stolen. Then my brother, who was my next door neighbor,
allowed some people to live in my house. Many Kuwaitis whose home had no
basement moved into a home with a basement due to fear of Saddam using
chemical bombs. These people – I do not blame them – damaged my home
by nailing wooden planks to all the doors and dripping candle wax on all the
floors and rugs, some of which never came off. Candles were needed because
there was no electricity. My home was also used to shelter a boy sought by
the Iraqis. Because several boys had seen what they were not supposed to,
they were shot. One survived and escaped. His family pretended he had died
of his wound and arranged a fake mourning. The Iraqis never found him. He is
considered to be a living martyr. (See 3285-3288.) |
