In Basra, southern Iraq, Bushra cradles her youngest child – one of four siblings battling severe health issues her family blames on U.S. military actions. Her voice breaks as she recounts their suffering: \"One’s like this. Another’s the same. I’m at my wits’ end.\" Her eldest died at 7; a daughter lives with congenital brain damage. Doctors told Bushra further treatment would be \"a waste of money,\" leaving her trapped between grief and despair.
The suspected culprit? Radioactive remnants of depleted uranium (DU) munitions used by U.S. forces during the 2003 Iraq War. Classified as a Group I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, DU contamination from armored vehicle attacks now permeates communities. Local researchers report spikes in birth defects and cancers near former battlefields, though comprehensive studies remain scarce.
Bushra’s story mirrors countless others in regions where DU was deployed. \"Nothing’s more painful than losing hope,\" she says, her savings exhausted and options dwindling. As global health advocates push for accountability, her family’s plight underscores the human cost of conflict’s invisible aftermath.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
