Afghanistan
On 29 October 2001, Taliban doctors in Kabul reported mystery deaths of women and children near bombing targets. These patients had “superficial injuries with symptoms of chemical weapons” and “acute diarrhoea an breathing problems”[8]. Several outbreaks of mystery illnesses, sometimes fatal epidemics with similar symptoms have been reported for civilians and some troops. Eyewitness reports also tell of babies born with extreme deformity - one with no head and one arm, another with a mass of tissue protruding from inside the mouth - identical to those seen in Iraq. In one village alone 23 babies were born with such deformities. Taliban fighters returning to there villages have also been dying, not of any injury, but from symptoms which include sudden weight loss, vomiting blood and passing blood in the stool, and severe pain in the lower back and kidney region [9].
In September 2002, the Uranium Medical Research Center made a field survey in Afghanistan in areas where similar weapons had been used. The Team reported that “Those exposed at the time of the bombing reported immediate health effects within minutes to hour of the attacks. Reports include a common profile of flu-type illnesses throughout entire neighbourhoods, beginning within the first few weeks and lasting two or more months after the bombing. The more seriously ill show progressive symptoms which have persisted for 10 to 12 months up to the present... community reports - corroborated by the Team’s examination of two infants - may indicate that up to 25% of newborns suffer congenital and post-natal health problems. These infants’ musculature is underdeveloped, their head appear disproportionate to body weight, and they have unusual complexions and skin problems”[10].
On 29 October 2001, Taliban doctors in Kabul reported mystery deaths of women and children near bombing targets. These patients had “superficial injuries with symptoms of chemical weapons” and “acute diarrhoea an breathing problems”[8]. Several outbreaks of mystery illnesses, sometimes fatal epidemics with similar symptoms have been reported for civilians and some troops. Eyewitness reports also tell of babies born with extreme deformity - one with no head and one arm, another with a mass of tissue protruding from inside the mouth - identical to those seen in Iraq. In one village alone 23 babies were born with such deformities. Taliban fighters returning to there villages have also been dying, not of any injury, but from symptoms which include sudden weight loss, vomiting blood and passing blood in the stool, and severe pain in the lower back and kidney region [9].
In September 2002, the Uranium Medical Research Center made a field survey in Afghanistan in areas where similar weapons had been used. The Team reported that “Those exposed at the time of the bombing reported immediate health effects within minutes to hour of the attacks. Reports include a common profile of flu-type illnesses throughout entire neighbourhoods, beginning within the first few weeks and lasting two or more months after the bombing. The more seriously ill show progressive symptoms which have persisted for 10 to 12 months up to the present... community reports - corroborated by the Team’s examination of two infants - may indicate that up to 25% of newborns suffer congenital and post-natal health problems. These infants’ musculature is underdeveloped, their head appear disproportionate to body weight, and they have unusual complexions and skin problems”[10].