THE U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT'S CATALOGUE OF DEATH AND DISEASE IN IRAQ

Revolutionary Worker #1119, September 23, 2001, posted at http://rwor.org

"Subject: Effects of Bombing on Disease Occurrence in Baghdad."

"Increased incidence of diseases will be attributable to degradation of normal preventive medicine, waste disposal, water purification/distribution, electricity, and decreased ability to control disease outbreaks. Any urban area in Iraq that has received infrastructure damage will have similar problems."

"Disease Information," dated January 22, 1991

"Conditions are favorable for communicable disease outbreaks, particularly in major urban areas affected by coalition bombing.

"Infectious disease prevalence in major Iraqi urban areas targeted by coalition bombing (Baghdad, Basrah) undoubtedly has increased since the beginning of Desert Storm...Current public health problems are attributable to the reduction of normal preventive medicine, waste disposal, water purification and distribution, electricity, and the decreased ability to control disease outbreaks."

Most Likely Diseases During The Next 60-90 Days (Descending Order)

• Diarrheal diseases (particularly children)

• Acute respiratory illnesses (colds and influenza)

• Typhoid

• Hepatitis A (particularly children)

• Measles, diphtheria, and pertussis (particularly children);

• Meningitis, including meningococcal (particularly children);

• Cholera (possible, but less likely)."

"Disease Outbreaks in Iraq," February 21, 1991

"Key Judgments--Health problems currently facing Iraq are primarily public health in nature; attributable to the breakdown of normal preventive medicine, waste disposal, water purification and distribution, electricity, and transportation (impeding healthcare access).....

"Communicable diseases in Baghdad are more widespread than usually observed during this time of the year and are linked to the poor sanitary conditions (contaminated water supplies and improper sewage disposal) resulting from the war. According to a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)/World Health Organization report, the quantity of potable water is less than 5 percent of the original supply, there are no operational water and sewage treatment plants, and the reported incidence of diarrhea is four times above normal levels. Additionally, respiratory infections are on the rise. Children particularly have been affected by these diseases."

"Medical Problems in Iraq," March 15, 1991

"SUMMARY: Cholera and measles have emerged at refugee camps. Further infectious diseases will spread due to inadequate water treatment and poor sanitation."

"The main causes of infectious diseases, particularly diarrhea, dysentery, and upper respiratory problems, are poor sanitation and unclean water. These diseases primarily afflict the old and young children."

"Status of Disease at Refugee Camps," May 1991.

"For the first time, however, kwashiorkor [malnutrition caused by lack of protein] has been observed in Iraq, along with evidence of protein deficiency. [The source] felt that typhoid was a problem, but gastroenteritis was killing children. They stated that in the south, 80 percent of the deaths were children (with the exception of Al Amarah, where 60 percent of deaths were children)."

"Health Conditions in Iraq, June 1991


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