Photo journal: Iraqi ballet teacher

Life is also hard for Ghada's husband, Ali. He is a pilot for Iraqi Airlines, but has not flown a plane since 1990, when the company was grounded by a UN embargo following the invasion of Kuwait.

"He is sitting at home all day which is terrible for him. A man must have work.

"We hoped things would improve after the war, but they haven't. Before we had sanctions - now we have no security."

Photographs by Brent Stirton for Getty Images