When I left Iraq it was impossible to live here and we where being constantly targeted," Saeed Abdullah, a paediatrician who returned to Iraq three weeks ago responding to the government appeal, told IslamOnline.net.

"But now things have changed."

The Iraqi government is trying to lure back hundreds of doctors who fled the country since the US-led invasion in 2003 in response to the explosion of violence that triggered an enormous brain drain in the country.

The government's appeal to doctors - whether overseas or in neighbouring countries - promised that salaries are to be increased.

It also cited the statistics showing a drop of violence in Iraq over the past few months.

The result is that more than 500 doctors from the nearly 3000 who fled Iraq since 2003 have returned to the country, Hadi Muhammad, senior official in the Ministry of Health, told IOL.

He affirmed that the government plans to raise doctors' salaries, which remains much less than international standards, in the coming months.

Earlier official estimates, however, show that at least one-third of Iraq's 40,000 doctors have fled the war-ravaged country.

The estimates also show that 50% of medical students left Iraq upon graduation.

A recent UN report said there was a worrying increase in attacks on professionals such as doctors, teachers, artists, lawyers, ex-military officers and journalists.

Abdullah, who fled Iraq in earlier 2005 and moved in to the Jordanian capital, says he has yearned to return home for a long time, but there were not the least promising signs that he can take such step.

Abdullah added that he will now wait for the government to keep its promises.

"Now I’m back to work and I am happy that I can help."

Still Scared

Salwa Ibrahim, a gynaecologist who fled Baghdad along with her family in 2006, has also returned to Iraq a month ago.

"My family didn’t want me to return," she told IOL.

"But I packed and came back to help my colleagues to improve the health of thousands of Iraqis who are suffering with the lack in medicines and doctors."

Nevertheless, Ibrahim could not risk bringing her children with her before she sees with her own eyes that things have changed for the better in Iraq.

"I’m a widow and I left my children with my parents in Amman until I’m sure 100 percent that the security here has improved."

Over the past years since the invasion, many doctors were kidnapped or had their beloved ones kidnapped by gangs and militants who demand ransoms.

About 184 doctors have been killed in the bloody cycle of violence since the invasion.

For others, however, the government promises is not just strong enough to risk their lives again.

"I want to return to Iraq but I cannot leave Syria until I’m sure I will be safe there," said Salman Mahmoud, a urologist who is living at the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Like others forced to leave their home, Mahmoud says he wishes to return to Iraq one day.

But the Iraq father, who has been through the ordeal of having his son kidnapped before fleeing Iraq, says he has no plans to answer an appeal to return home and risk his family's safety.

"It is true life here is hard and my work isn’t appreciated.

"However, I cannot take the risk again especially after having my son kidnapped," he added.

"The government will have to increase salaries at least 1000 percent and guarantee bodyguards to me, and then I can maybe put my feet on that land again."

IOL