december 25, 2004 - The people of Fallujah who returned home were shocked at the destruction of their houses due to the US-led attacks on the city last month.

After waiting for a long time, local people managed to enter the city, 50 km west of Baghdad, after US forces allowed them to return home.

"I passed through very complex procedures before entering the city, US soldiers took my fingerprints and checked my eyes, and then asked for more than one document to prove that I am resident of Hay Al Andalus in Fallujah," 30-year-old Mohamed Jaleel told Xinhua.

"I found my house was completely ruined and I do not know what to do or how to bring my family because the city is not livable and most of houses were destroyed and the city lacks basic services," he said.

"When I returned, I found four corpses, and I told US forces and the Iraqi National Guards, but no one paid attention to me. I had to drag them out of the ruin and put them in the street," 33-year-old Shafeeq Mehdi said.

"I can not take my family to the house, because all the furniture is destroyed and the city lacks services, in addition to my frustrated spirit after I had seen horrible and sad scenes in the city, which became a ghost city," he said.

Khalid Al Jiboory, another resident, had a different opinion, for he insists on returning home and staying in his city in spite of many damages and the lack of services.

"I will not leave Fallujah and will not leave my house again, even if American airplanes dropped bombs again, I'm too tired of being homeless and my family also wants to return home, though I totally realize that this would be a big risk, but I have no other choice," said Al Jiboory.

"I entered Fallujah to see my house and look for my eldest son, whom I haven't heard any news about since the outbreak of the battle, but I found my house totally destroyed and could not find my son," said Um Sabah, a 45-year-old woman.

"I don't know what to do or what is my guilt to find my house only a heap of rocks, I need someone to help me, I want my son and my house, I want my life back," she said.

Ahmed Sami, 25-year-old, said, "What happened to Fallujah led to the loss of more than 200,000 houses and shops, and consequently the future of the people became unknown."

"As I was entering the city, I was hoping to find my three brothers, whom I lost since the start of the battle, but when I entered my house I found the three dead after being hand-tied and shot dead." said 52-year-old Jamal Nawaf.

62-year-old Nasir Hamdan said that he had experienced many battles and seen a lot of tragedies, but he had never seen such destruction and ruin as that in Fallujah

"I would rather stay in a tent than to stay in a ruined city with only US soldiers and dogs roaming around the city, and I would endure cold and hunger rather than entering such a city."

Destruction, tragedy and sadness had become common points of talks of people going in and out of the city.

Source: Xinhua