Fallujah doctors report rise in birth defects
Troops Out | 04.03.2010 17:55
Fallujah doctors report rise in birth defects
John Simpson talks about the children with birth defects he saw in Fallujah
Doctors in the Iraqi city of Fallujah are reporting a high level of birth defects, with some blaming weapons used by the US after the Iraq invasion.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8548707.stm
The city witnessed fierce fighting in 2004 as US forces carried out a major offensive against insurgents.
Now, the level of heart defects among newborn babies is said to be 13 times higher than in Europe.
The US military says it is not aware of any official reports showing an increase in birth defects in the area.
BBC world affairs editor John Simpson visited a new, US-funded hospital in Fallujah where paediatrician Samira al-Ani told him that she was seeing as many as two or three cases a day, mainly cardiac defects.
Our correspondent also saw children in the city who were suffering from paralysis or brain damage - and a photograph of one baby who was born with three heads.
He adds that he heard many times that officials in Fallujah had warned women that they should not have children.
Doctors and parents believe the problem is the highly sophisticated weapons the US troops used in Fallujah six years ago.
British-based Iraqi researcher Malik Hamdan told the BBC's World Today programme that doctors in Fallujah were witnessing a "massive unprecedented number" of heart defects, and an increase in the number of nervous system defects.
She said that one doctor in the city had compared data about birth defects from before 2003 - when she saw about one case every two months - with the situation now, when, she saw cases every day.
Ms Hamdan said that based on data from January this year, the rate of congenital heart defects was 95 per 1,000 births - 13 times the rate found in Europe.
"I've seen footage of babies born with an eye in the middle of the forehead, the nose on the forehead," she added.
A spokesman for the US military, Michael Kilpatrick, said it always took public health concerns "very seriously".
"No studies to date have indicated environmental issues resulting in specific health issues," he said.
"Unexploded ordinance, including improvised explosive devices, are a recognised hazard," he added.
John Simpson talks about the children with birth defects he saw in Fallujah
Doctors in the Iraqi city of Fallujah are reporting a high level of birth defects, with some blaming weapons used by the US after the Iraq invasion.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8548707.stm The city witnessed fierce fighting in 2004 as US forces carried out a major offensive against insurgents.
Now, the level of heart defects among newborn babies is said to be 13 times higher than in Europe.
The US military says it is not aware of any official reports showing an increase in birth defects in the area.
BBC world affairs editor John Simpson visited a new, US-funded hospital in Fallujah where paediatrician Samira al-Ani told him that she was seeing as many as two or three cases a day, mainly cardiac defects.
Our correspondent also saw children in the city who were suffering from paralysis or brain damage - and a photograph of one baby who was born with three heads.
He adds that he heard many times that officials in Fallujah had warned women that they should not have children.
Doctors and parents believe the problem is the highly sophisticated weapons the US troops used in Fallujah six years ago.
British-based Iraqi researcher Malik Hamdan told the BBC's World Today programme that doctors in Fallujah were witnessing a "massive unprecedented number" of heart defects, and an increase in the number of nervous system defects.
She said that one doctor in the city had compared data about birth defects from before 2003 - when she saw about one case every two months - with the situation now, when, she saw cases every day.
Ms Hamdan said that based on data from January this year, the rate of congenital heart defects was 95 per 1,000 births - 13 times the rate found in Europe.
"I've seen footage of babies born with an eye in the middle of the forehead, the nose on the forehead," she added.
A spokesman for the US military, Michael Kilpatrick, said it always took public health concerns "very seriously".
"No studies to date have indicated environmental issues resulting in specific health issues," he said.
"Unexploded ordinance, including improvised explosive devices, are a recognised hazard," he added.
Troops Out
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
too little too late
04.03.2010 23:15
it's sickening that the bbc is now putting a small piece out. they have been told about this issue by activists for a long time. brian haw's parliament square protest has for years been highlighting the issue of deformed babies due to the use of depleted uranium in iraq and afghanistan.
note that the bbc piece, while mentioning 'radiation' in passing, does not use the words 'depleted uranium' and while dozens of children are born deformed every single week in iraq, there are no plans to clear up the poisons that have a half-life of millions of years, and DU munitions are still being deployed in afghanistan.
rikki
yup, funny how DU isn't even mentioned
05.03.2010 00:07
some background, links and opinion:
PigBrother.info
This news is out@ same time as Marjah?USmilitary saying its like Fallujah
05.03.2010 04:56
Wether it is or not, we cant miss this opportunity for people of Marjah & Fallujah!!!!!!,
plus the future innocent children of soldiers who will breathe in DPUranium & phosphorous from the USAF, likely resulting in birth defects, though more minor are vpossible.
All for the sake of a petroleum pipeline the world could do without,especially if we had global democracy & a cooperative economy, with the Aghani government subsidised by smack, heroin.
Mr be tween the lines,:) Green syndicalist