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Hi Tom and everyone, Links follow in two areas: (1) Research into civilian casualties of the war on Iraq, and (2) Current humanitarian conditions in Iraq, including the water supply. None of what follows was unexpected. The U.S. and Britain were warned repeatedly of Iraq's fragility, and of the war's likely human cost. The warnings were ignored. Our governments could have taken steps to minimize the damage, but did not. These actions, and the governments' cynicism in justifying the conflict, were purely criminal (in its prosecutorial, not agit prop, sense). Summarizing: >> IraqBodyCount.Net notes 5,546 civilian casualties (minimum) have been reported in Iraq[1]. By virtue of their methodology, IBC tracks direct casualties almost exclusively. As someone said, "If the WTC was a bloodbath, then what is this?" >> IBC lists 15 independent research projects that seek to estimate Iraqi civilian casualties[2], with several focusing on post-war health effects, rather than direct casualties. As we know, indirect civilian casualties far outpaced direct casualties in the 1991 war[3]. >> Long-term epidemiological studies are perhaps the only reliable method of inferring indirect casualties (an "excess death" calculation, comparing pre-war/post-war mortality rates). >> Concerning Iraq's water supply, chlorine may be a lesser issue than infrastructural damage (pipes, purification plants, and power supplies). Virtually all major international health agencies have issued alerts, though responses are hard to track[4]. >> Non-fatal bouts of diarrhea lead to malnutrition. A UNICEF survey "released on 15 May, showed that 7.7 per cent of children are acutely malnourished, up from 4 per cent prior to the hostilities".[5] An accident of birth spares most of us a daily battle to find water, find the propane to boil it, while enduring 110 degree heat. Several reporters [6a-c] have attempted to make this reality tangible. Regards, Drew Hamre Golden Valley, MN USA === [1] http://www.iraqbodycount.net [2] List of ongoing research, including AP's widely cited report http://www.iraqbodycount.net/editorial_june1203.htm [3] Probably the most comprehensive examination of Gulf War casualties is Beth Osborne Daponte's study: http://www.ippnw.org/MGS/PSRQV3N2Daponte.html [4] The UN's portal for the Iraq crisis: http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=50&Body=Iraq&Body1=inspect ... inclues archived press conferences and links to Iraq alerts by: OCHA - UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OHCHR - Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights UNDP - UN Development Programme UNEP - UN Environment Programme UNESCO - UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Org. UNFPA - UN Population Fund UNHCR - UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNICEF - UN Children's Fund WFP - World Food Programme WHO - World Health Organization [5] UNICEF's report: http://www.unicef.org/noteworthy/iraq/today/25may2003.html [6a] Behind the victory, a power struggle that drains life from a weary people http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,966025,00.html [6b] Water Damage: As the heat has crept up into the low 100s in Iraq, so has the reliance on the ancient, sewage-choked waterways. The impact on the country’s children has been devastating http://www.msnbc.com/news/921682.asp?0cv=KB20 [6c] Safe drinking water among highest concerns in Iraq By Dana Hull Knight Ridder Newspapers http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/6031431.htm _______________________________________________ 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