Stop the war! Let the children of Iraq live.
Urgent Press Release: Bangalore (India) - 8th April 2003
As the World Health Organisation celebrated World Health Day (April 7th) on
the theme "Healthy Environment for Children" and called
everyone to join WHO in 'promoting healthy environment for children and
make a difference for the future', the Peoples Health Movement (PHM), a
global coalition, calls for an immediate stop to the war on Iraq and demands
" Let the Children of Iraq Live!". PHM also expresses concern over
the failure of the WHO and UNICEF to take the leadership to campaign against
the unjust and immoral war on Iraq.
PHM is a people-oriented global initiative that evolved out of the People’s
Health Assembly, a historic summit that was held in December 2000 in
Bangladesh. Over 1453 participants from 92 countries met for the People's
Health Assembly that was the culmination of 18 months of preparatory action
around the globe.
As over 22 million Iraqi civilians especially children are going through a
traumatising experience as all aspects of their environment - air, water,
land and their homes, schools and local community are being subjected to the
worst form of bombing in world history - PHM exhorts all UN agencies
especially WHO and UNICEF to take the moral leadership to campaign to stop
the war on Iraq.
The children of Iraq have been subjected to sanctions resulting in a whole
generation of malnourished children. UN agencies estimate that there has been
a 72%increase in the incidence of malnourishment among children in Iraq
since the sanctions. Sanctions also killed over 750,000 children. Shortage
of medicines has affected children's health more than any other sector of
the population.
Environmental hazards caused by the presence of depleted uranium and other
chemical hazards from the armaments used in the war will produce a range of
health problems including leukemia and hepatic, respiratory and cardio toxic
effects. The dropping of ammunition wrapped in yellow packing (similar to
the food packages dropped by the invading forces) will increase the danger
to the children as they will access unexploded bombs accidentally thinking
them to be food parcels.
Mines and other explosives will continue to maim young children in the years
to come. In addition, with the health of their parents at greater risk due
to the ravages of war, child care, child health and child security will be
the biggest casualty.
PHM is particularly surprised at the insensitivity of the recent WHO
briefing for Iraq dated 4th April 2003, three days before world health day.
There is no mention of the risks to children as their environment is ruined
by the war on Iraq. In a typical preoccupation with bio medical magic
bullets the document talks about measles immunizations for 6 to 15 year olds
which today is not the only hazard the Iraqi children face with their homes,
schools, streets, and their communities destroyed by an unjust, illegal and
immoral war.
PHM calls upon all health and human rights activists all over the world and
agencies like WHO and UNICEF to recognise the gross human rights violation
of child rights by the invading forces and to join the millions of anti war
and pro peace protesters round the world in demanding an immediate stop to
the war. "Give the children of Iraq a chance!".
People’s Charter for Health, the guiding spirit of the PHM, is the largest
consensus document on health. “Wars, violence, conflict and natural
disasters devastate communities and destroy human dignity. They have a
severe impact on the physical and mental health of their members, especially
women and children. Increased arms procurement and an aggressive and corrupt
international arms trade undermine social, political and economic stability
and the allocation of resources to the social sector,” says the People’s
Charter for Health.
For the People’s Health Movement
Dr. Ravi Narayan, Co-ordinator, PHM Secretariat
For media enquiries:
India: Dr. Unnikrishnan PV
Mobile: +91 (0) 98450 91319 / unnikru@yahoo.com
Thailand: Satya Sivaraman
E-mail: satyasagar@yahoo.com
UK: Andrew Chetley
E-mail: chetley.a@healthlink.org.uk
PHM Secretariat
Gonoshasthaya Kendra, PO Mirzanagar, 1344 Savar, BANGLADESH. Tel: 880-2-770
8316; fax: 880-2-770 8317
E-mail: gksavar@citechco.net
~ www.phmovement.org
