From: "Cat Euler" Cat@freewomen.freeserve.co.uk
To : ........
Subject: The Sunday Herald on lack of DU warning to refugees
Date sent: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 10:35:33 +0100
www.sundayherald.com
2 August 1999
Refugees kept in dark over Kosovo radiation threat
Depleted uranium warning only issued to MoD staff, writes
Felicity Arbuthnot Publication Date: Aug 1 1999 MINISTRY of
Defence personnel in Kosovo have been warned to stay clear of
areas which have been affected by depleted-uranium weapons unless
they are wearing full radiological protective clothing.
However, returning refugees have been kept in the dark about the
perils of moving back to the highly contaminated areas, with the
MoD claiming that responsibility for alerting them lies with
United Nations relief workers.
When asked if there was a co-ordinated Nato response relating to
the returning refugees, and the locals, rebuilding, and to the
advice to avoid disturbing areas of depleted uranium (DU)
contamination, an MOD spokesperson replied: "There's no
specially reviewed policy re DU. It would have to be
co-ordinated by Nato.
"We would follow and adhere to any of their directions."
Now some UNHCR personnel are threatening to pull out of the
affected areas, expressing "extreme concern" over the risk to
their staff and locals. The Sunday Herald can reveal that
the National Radiological Protection Board has issued a warning
of the potential hazards of radioactive depleted uranium to the
health of personnel working in Kosovo. It has urged press and
reliefagency workers to avoid disturbing contaminated areas.
An estimated 250,000 rounds of depleted uranium were fired,
primarily from American A-10 aircraft.
At an international Conference in London on Friday, medical and
scientific experts estimated that an additional 10,000 cancer
deaths in theregion will result.
DU, first used in the 1991 Gulf war, has been linked to so-called
'Gulf war sickness' among veterans and to the epidemic of
cancers and birth defects in Iraq.
The NRPB - the government's radiation watchdog - has warned:
"There are two types of potential hazard posed by the use of DU:
a chemical toxicity hazard and a radiation hazard.
"DU could be absorbed into the body following inhalation or
ingestion.
"In this case the kidney is the organ most likely to be affected
by the chemical toxicity of DU."
A further 'hazard' would arise from disturbing the contamination
and inhaling the dust.
"DU deposited in the lungs could be contributory cause of lung
cancer."
The warning concludes: "People visiting or working in Kosovo,
for example press and relief agencies, should seek advice from
appropriate authorities on the disposition of damaged vehicles or
areas of DU contamination to avoid disturbing these areas.
"If access to these areas is deemed essential then advice should
be sought from the Ministry of Defence or the Foreign Office.'
The Ministry of Defence admits that it has advised all of its
personnel on no account to approach any area which may have been
affected by DU and that they should wear full radiological
protective clothing and breathing apparatus if it is
unavoidable.
However it has washed its hands of all responsibility for others
in the region. "Responsibility for those living in the area and
for returning refugees lies with the United Nations Commission
for Refugees.' There has been no official communication between
the Ministry of Defence and UNHCR officials in Kosovo, who only
learned of the danger from a concerned scientist. It has now
amassed a volume of material which has been sent to its head
office in Geneva, after staff expressed 'extreme concern' over
the risk to personnel and locals - some demanding that all UNHCR
personnel be withdrawn forthwith.
The significance of the NRPB's warnings and UNHCR's concerns
were enlarged by scientist Dr. Roger Coghill at the International
Conference on depleted uranium, whose audience included
Ambassadors and dignatories from the Middle East concerned about
the health and environment of their populations since the Gulf
war.
"Inhaling DU directly into the lungs has a bio-effectiveness one
hundred times more than Chernobyl," said Coghill.
"One single particle lodged in a lymph node can devastate the
immune system from within. Damage is non-repairable."
Pointing out the distance DU can travel he commented: "The
Technical Institute at Kazani in Budapest, reported that during
the Balkans war (DU associated) radiation levels rose 25%.
"Alarming rises were also reported in all neighbouring
countries."
Top
|