The world was told that the U.S. invasion on Iraq on March 20, 2003 was to destroy the “weapons of mass destruction.” A year after, U.S. has found none. However, the U.S. invasion and its occupation have caused a health catastrophe in Iraq.

Dr. Darby Santiago, secretary-general of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), said, “The aftermath of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq has resulted into an explosive health catastrophe. The U.S. war has caused a humanitarian crisis.”

“About 10,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed directly by military attacks of the U.S. Meanwhile, the much-vaunted laser-guided missiles and bombs hit civilian structures such as electrical power systems, water and sanitation systems, and even medical facilities. The after effects of the destruction of vital infrastructure have caused Iraqi civilians to suffer tremendously in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. If the infrastructure cannot be rapidly repaired, the crisis could worsen,” Santiago said.

Santiago stated that, “Infant mortality has reached 106 per 1,000 live births by March 2004, compared to only 40 infant deaths in 1989.”

Basra was the first city that suffered a humanitarian crisis. On March 21, 2003, air raids destroyed high voltage lines and knocked out Basra’s electrical power. This in turn disabled Basra’s water and sanitation systems, including the Wafa’ Al Qaed Water Pumping Station, which pumps water from the Shatt al-Arab river to five water treatment plants that supply piped water to over 60 percent of Basra’s 1.5 million residents. At the end of April, water and electricity supplies in Basra were still at only 60 percent of their pre-war levels. After one month of war, water shortage was still severe and water was reportedly sold on the black market at USD 1 per 1.5 liter bottle.

In addition, several hospitals sustained severe damage in air raids. On April 2, 2003 for example, U.S. aircraft hit a building opposite the Red Crescent maternity hospital in Baghdad and the blast was so strong that the hospital’s roof collapsed. The maternity hospital is part of a Red Crescent compound that also includes their headquarters and a surgical hospital. Patients and at least three doctors and nurses working at the hospital were wounded.

Though these information are themselves appalling, these merely reflect the magnitude of the catastrophe suffered by the Iraqis through war and occupation brought about by the United States. “The war on Iraq is clearly an imperialist war that pays no attention to the Iraqis’ public health. From the very start, the U.S. war has been an unjustified war, infringing on Iraq’s sovereignty and right towards self-determination. U.S. interest in Iraq has been control over Iraq’s oil resources. The people of the world should seek the liberation of Iraq from U.S. aggression. We call on the U.S. government to undertake repatriations to the people of Iraq for the destruction and damage wrought on lives and property, " declared Santiago.

Santiago also scored the Arroyo government that has chosen to support the U.S. war and its continued occupation of Iraq. “President Arroyo must be accountable for blindly following supporting U.S. war on Iraq in exchange for U.S. Pres. George Bush’s patronage,” he said.