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On December 27, 2015, the Iraqi government forces backed by US-led warplanes wrested Ramadi city, the Anbar provincial capital, from the Islamic State (IS) militants after eight months of the latter's control. It was heralded as a major victory, but the cost of winning Ramadi came at a great cost to the city itself. The fierce battles caused wide-scale damage to the infrastructure of the city, including schools, colleges and higher education institutions.
The University of Anbar is one of the higher education institutions that suffered severe damage. The university's campuses became battlefields, bombs and mortar shells destroyed many of their buildings and facilities.
Two and a half years have passed since recapturing the University of Anbar form IS, yet the university premises still look as if they have just witnessed intensive fighting. As is the case with all liberated cities, the Iraqi government has neglected Ramadi and has not even tried to rebuild any destroyed learning institutions in the city.
A staff member of the University of Anbar, who declined to reveal his name, said in an interview that after retaking the university from IS the university management appointed a committee to assess the damage caused by the military operations.
The University of Anbar is one of the higher education institutions that suffered severe damage. The university's campuses became battlefields, bombs and mortar shells destroyed many of their buildings and facilities.
Two and a half years have passed since recapturing the University of Anbar form IS, yet the university premises still look as if they have just witnessed intensive fighting. As is the case with all liberated cities, the Iraqi government has neglected Ramadi and has not even tried to rebuild any destroyed learning institutions in the city.
A staff member of the University of Anbar, who declined to reveal his name, said in an interview that after retaking the university from IS the university management appointed a committee to assess the damage caused by the military operations.
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Commenting on the condition of the university premises after the battles, the university staff member said that "We found that some buildings had minor damages and furniture was in place and in a good condition. However, after the withdrawal of the"16th Brigade" of the Iraqi army from the premises, we found out that they (the members of the "16th Brigade") had stolen most of the furniture, including electricity generators, and had destroyed what they had decided to leave.”
Some personnel in Iraq's army, federal police and anti-terrorism special units took the university vehicles which the staff and students had used for commuting.
“They repainted these vehicles with khaki military colour rejecting to return them to the university. They also took many vehicles belonging to the university president's office.” the witness added.
The university staff member has also revealed that he complained about the theft and other wrongdoings that the "16th Brigade" personnel had committed, but he later decided to keep silent after receiving threats from them.
Despite the rubble remaining on its premises and facilities, the university has decided to reopen its faculties and resume education at its campuses. “You can see close to the accommodation of the university staff and students, there is a pond filled with rubble and red signs warning there are still unexploded bombs and shells." said the witness.
On June 2017, the Minister of Higher education, Abdul Razzaq al Issa, announced that new committees had been formed to assess the damage inflicted on universities in liberated provinces and rebuilding plans for these universities would be set out. Yet, the University of Anbar has not received any attention from the Iraqi government. Major work is desperately needed to get the university rebuilt.
Some personnel in Iraq's army, federal police and anti-terrorism special units took the university vehicles which the staff and students had used for commuting.
“They repainted these vehicles with khaki military colour rejecting to return them to the university. They also took many vehicles belonging to the university president's office.” the witness added.
The university staff member has also revealed that he complained about the theft and other wrongdoings that the "16th Brigade" personnel had committed, but he later decided to keep silent after receiving threats from them.
Despite the rubble remaining on its premises and facilities, the university has decided to reopen its faculties and resume education at its campuses. “You can see close to the accommodation of the university staff and students, there is a pond filled with rubble and red signs warning there are still unexploded bombs and shells." said the witness.
On June 2017, the Minister of Higher education, Abdul Razzaq al Issa, announced that new committees had been formed to assess the damage inflicted on universities in liberated provinces and rebuilding plans for these universities would be set out. Yet, the University of Anbar has not received any attention from the Iraqi government. Major work is desperately needed to get the university rebuilt.
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