Editor—On behalf of all British Iraqi doctors and Iraqi doctors living in Iraq the Iraqi Medical Association wishes to express its concern about the recent bombing of Iraq by the United States and Britain. The people of Iraq are already suffering as a result of shortages of food, medicine, and basic medical facilities, which have a direct impact on morbidity and mortality.
The bombing campaign will inevitably lead to further deterioration in the humanitarian situation. The terrifying public health hazards of the bombing—apart from its direct destructive effect on people and the tremendous thundering and ripping sounds of explosions—have devastating effects (both short term and long term) on people, particularly the very young and very old. Even more unfortunately, the campaign occurred at the start of the holy periods of Ramadan and Christmas.
The medical profession is a humanitarian profession, and all healthcare workers do their best, including Iraqi doctors inside and outside the United Kingdom. They do their best to ensure people’s wellbeing regardless of their religion, race, and political affiliation. What is really sad and extremely frustrating is to see large numbers of innocent people suffering for reasons that are easily avoidable.
Footnotes
For the executive committee of the association.