A former human shield is setting up a safe refuge for thousands of children made homeless by the war in Iraq.

Uzma Bashir returned to Baghdad this month after setting up her charity 'Our Home - Iraq' to assist street kids.

The 33-year-old of Bradford who earlier this year gave Asian Image a first hand account of the intense bombing of Baghdad, is aiming to raise more money for her chairty.

Before leaving she and her friends helped raise over £6000 at a charity event in Bradford.

In an e-mail message from the war torn city she said: "We've being going out visiting the kids (a group of about 15 boys) on a daily basis taking food and generally assessing the situation in terms of what is the best we can do for the kids.

"I have visited four different orphanages, which seem to be running very well. We are going to visit another tomorrow which has been 'set up' within the last two months, specifically for the street kids. So far it's looking like a shelter (soup kitchen type) is required somewhere locally, where the kids can go to get washed, eat and sleep."

"I'm going to a 'Henna night' tomorrow and then a wedding on Monday, my first Iraqi wedding!"

This is Uzma's second return visit to Baghdad since the war. After her first visit she returned horrified by the conditions children were living in.

Then, she reported: "The city centre of Baghdad, Iraq's once prosperous capital, is haunted by thousands of street children, who sleep under hedges and bridges and eke out a living, begging from Westerners, soldiers, journalists and members of the non-governmental relief organisations with a presence in the city.

"In the ground floor restaurants, every meal attracts a crowd of kids who press their faces against the glass in a mute appeal for food."

She added that most vulnerable residents of the city have become the prey of organised and powerful criminal gangs.

"Rumours still abound of these gangs kidnapping children for sale to Saudi and other oil-rich states. One such ring was broken up recently, but others continue to operate.

"The kids on the street are raided nightly by thieves, rejected and despised by their highly conservative society."

"Drug abuse was a very minor social problem before the war, but it is catching on fast. Glue or solvent abuse is almost universal among the street children. Some of the older boys have been seen with bags of pills, which appear to be some kind of amphetamine." She is hoping to raise more cash for the kids so that they can have a roof over their heads, some security.

Her charity is currently looking for people with experience of working with street kids and/or abused children to save these children from the consequences of the occupation.

Anyone wanting further informaion can log on to Our Home - Iraq website - ourhome iraq.blogspot.com.