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thanks to AS-ILAS for the below + please give full cite to story above. I don't know who you are but you have my respect and then some for the 2 posts. t. AS-ILAS wrote: > Thousands at risk of cholera in Iraq, UK and US neglecting the needs of > civilians > > Baghdad, Iraq, 11 June 2003 (Merlin) - As raw sewage from open drains > contaminates drinking water, temperatures soar and electricity is in short > supply, the risk of epidemic diseases such as cholera spreading in Baghdad > increases daily. Cholera is highly contagious and fatal if left untreated. > In an overcrowded city the size of Baghdad, which has 4 million inhabitants, > the health implications are enormous and Merlin, the UK-based medical aid > charity is beginning to question whether the occupying powers are serious > about protecting the health of the Iraqi people. > Geoff Prescott, Chief Executive of Merlin, said: > > "As occupying powers, the US and UK have a responsibility to fulfill their > obligations under the Geneva Conventions and Hague law. Their slowness in > restoring essential services such as clean water, electricity and sanitation > is jeopardizing the lives of thousands of people." > > "The conditions in some areas of Baghdad are similar to that of Basra where > more than 50 cases of cholera were recently confirmed, said Fouad Hikmat, > Merlin's Country Manager in Iraq. Diseases such as cholera breeds on poverty > and poor sanitation," he said. "Unless public services are restored quickly, > we could have an epidemic on our hands." > > Merlin was one of the first NGOs to arrive in Iraq following the end of the > war in April. Its team of health and medical specialists focussed on > assessing and revitalising 137 essential primary healthcare facilities -- > the most neglected area of healthcare - and hospital paediatric wards in > Baghdad and delivered emergency health kits to 19 paediatric hospitals in > the capital. > > CONTACTS: > > JUSTINE LAW > PR OFFICER > Justine.law@merlin.org.uk > 5 -- 13 Trinity Street, London SE1 1DB. > Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7378 4842 > Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7378 4899 > www.merlin.org.uk > > Merlin is a UK-based charity committed to providing healthcare for people in > crisis. We provide medical relief to people suffering as a result of > conflict, natural disaster or epidemic disease anywhere in the world, > regardless of race, religion or political affiliation. > > Since our foundation in 1993, we have worked in over 30 countries including > Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, East Timor, Georgia, India, > Kenya, Russia, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan and Chechnya. > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. > To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss > To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk > All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk