Report: 80% of Iraqis lack access to sanitation.

[Dammit Ann]

"It goes without saying that war is bad for people's health. But a compendium of new public health statistics, released Tuesday by the World Health Organization, quantifies just how desperate the situation has become for ordinary Iraqis.

There are the obvious risks of car bombs and snipers, which kill an average of 100 people a day, said the report of the organization's Health Action in Crisis Group.

But beyond that, there are a host of more fundamental problems created by years of conflict: 80 percent of Iraqis lack access to sanitation, 70 percent lack regular access to clean water and 60 percent lack access to the public food distribution system, the report says.

As a result of these multiple public health failings, diarrhea and respiratory infections now account for two-thirds of the deaths of children under 5, the report said.

According to a 2006 national survey conducted by Unicef, 21 percent of Iraqi children are chronically malnourished, which puts them at risk for both stunted growth and mental development."

More at link:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/17/news/who.php



It's not just violent death there, it's a health crisis. I'm appalled at this. Where the hell did all the reconstruction money go?

[rubberducky]

1. I bet the bases and the embassy aren`t having this problem.

[Dammit Ann]

2. that crossed my mind also...

what the fuck are we doing there?