- A US-led attack on Iraq is likely to result in between
48,000 and 260,000 deaths during the first three months of combat, according
to a study by medical and public health experts launched in Parliament
House by the Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) today. Post-war
health effects could take an additional 200,000 lives.
-
- On launching the report this morning, Dr Sue Wareham,
President of the Medical Association for Prevention of War, called for
the Australian government and those supportive of a war with Iraq to read
the report thoroughly.
-
- "This report at least deserves a response from those
who advocate war against Iraq," said Dr Wareham. "If Prime Minister
Howard already understands the human effect of modern warfare, then he
has a responsibility to justify to the Australian people our likely involvement
in this carnage. If he does not understand, then this report is essential
reading for him. But let him not pretend that he just doesn't know."
-
- The report, titled "Collateral Damage: The Health
and Environmental Costs of War on Iraq", is based on projections from
the 1990-91 Gulf War, which led to an estimated 205,000 casualties. It
analyses current U.S. combat scenarios and concludes that a new conflict
will be much more intense and destructive than the first Gulf War.
-
- The report forecasts a huge death toll, a massive humanitarian
crisis and long term health and environmental damage from any war on Iraq.
If nuclear weapons were used, the death toll would rise into the millions.
The aftermath of such a military attack could include civil war, famine,
epidemics, millions of refugees and economic collapse, according to the
report.
-
- General Peter Gration, former Australian Chief of Defence
Forces has openly supported the report and the attack scenarios postulated
in the report as militarily sound, stating "I thoroughly commend this
Report, and its call for humane and wise global leadership. By reminding
us of the likely monumental human and environmental costs of a new war
with Iraq, it has made a major contribution to the debate at a critical
time."
-
- For comment: Dr Sue Wareham President Medical Association
for Prevention of War - Australia phone: 0407 924 152
-
- ______________________
-
-
-
- 'Collateral Damage' will be released today by IPPNW member
groups in more than a dozen nations, including at the National Press Club
in Washington DC and at the Foreign Press Association in London. In Australia,
the report was launched at Parliament House, Canberra at an event hosted
by Greens Senator Kerry Nettle. An accompanying letter of commendation
from General Peter Gration, AC, OBE (Ret) was provided with the reports.
The report was issued by International Physicians for the Prevention of
Nuclear War (IPPNW), of which MAPW is an affiliate. The report was produced
by Medact, the United Kingdom IPPNW affiliate. Electronic copies available
from Dimity Hawkins, MAPW: ph 0425 786 301, e-mail: dimity.hawkins@mapw.org.au
.
-
- http://www.mapw.org.au/iraq/iraq-index.html
|