E’ presentato il sommario del rapporto dell’International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War sulla situazione sanitaria in Iraq. E’ stato presentato oggi a Londra dal dott. Michele Di Paolantonio, Presidente della Sezione Italiana dell’IPPNW.

The original document (227 Kbyte PDF)

IPPNW - International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War

Executive Summary

This evidence-based report analyzes, from a public health perspective, the impact of the 2003 war in Iraq on health, the health system, and relief and reconstruction. Health is harmed by conflict-related damage to health-sustaining infrastructure and to the health system, as well as the corrosive effects of conflict-related factors such as poverty, unemployment, disrupted education and low morale. The effects of the war must be measured not only by death and injuries due to weaponry, but by the longer-term, enduring suffering.

The report builds on Medact’s two previous reports on health in Iraq (2002 and 2003), which attracted worldwide media attention, and again aims to stimulate debate on the impact of conflict on health, with special reference to Iraq. It describes the deaths and injuries attributable to conflict and violence, and the current pattern of mental and physical illness. It gives an overview of the Iraqi health care system and barriers to good health care, including problems with the health-sustaining infrastructure. It analyzes the challenges of building a new health system freely available to all and based on primary health care principles.

Health impact

A recent scientific study has suggested that upwards of 100,000 Iraqis may have died since the 2003 coalition invasion, mostly from violence, mainly air strikes by coalition forces. Most of those reportedly killed by coalition forces were women and children. Many thousands of conflict-related injuries were also sustained. Infant mortality has risen because of lack of access to skilled help in childbirth, as well as because of violence.

Iraq already had high child and adult mortality and there is an alarming recurrence of previously well-controlled communicable diseases including diarrhoeal diseases, acute respiratory infections and typhoid, particularly among children. There is also a greater burden of noncommunicable disease, but a lack of resources, facilities and expertise to reverse the trends. The likely consequence will be an additional burden of preventable death and disability.

Behavioural problems such as family violence, child and spouse abuse and acts of public violence greatly increase in conflict and post-conflict situations. The aggregated effects of the psychosocial trauma suffered by Iraqi people create preconditions for further violence.

The health-sustaining infrastructure

The Iraqi infrastructure has been severely and repeatedly damaged by over 20 years of war, neglect and mismanagement, economic collapse and sanctions. This has a direct and indirect impact on health as water and sanitation, power supply, food security, housing, transport and many other factors are important health determinants. One in four people still depend on food aid and there are more children underweight (17%) or chronically malnourished (32%) than in 2000, though acute malnutrition has fallen slightly.

The health system - all activities whose primary purpose is to promote, restore or maintain health - is in disrepair. The quality of state services is poor owing to chronic underfunding, poor physical infrastructure, shortage and mismanagement of supplies, staff shortages and lack of modern skills and knowledge. The 2004 budget allocation to the Iraq Ministry of Health is only US$38 per citizen. People increasingly rely on self-diagnosis and traditional healing, and buy prescription medicines in the marketplace. Under-the-table payments are required to secure many services, and there is widespread suspicion of criminal involvement in the distribution of pharmaceutical supplies. Health workers are trying to provide services in extremely difficult circumstances.

The UN, traditionally responsible for coordinating humanitarian crisis responses, has been marginalised while US assistance has been characterized by damaging political in-fighting. Although project funding has been agreed, little money has been disbursed and many projects have not been implemented. Aid and development workers, both Iraqi and foreign, run great risks and most humanitarian agencies have left central and southern Iraq, which remains largely a war zone. The pursuit of a relief and development agenda may be little more than nominal.

Key recommendations (full recommendations available on p. 12 of the report)

Independent inquiry
An independent commission should make a thorough investigation of casualties and the state of health in Iraq.

Protecting health in conflict
Require occupying forces to monitor casualties and civilian protection, re-evaluate the impact of weaponry in populated areas, comply with the Geneva Conventions, and ensure health services are accessible to civilians in conflict areas.

Long-term interventions to improve health and peace
Strengthen stewardship roles, capacity and funding to rebuild an Iraqi health system that is free at the point of delivery and based on primary health care principles.

Conclusion

The 2003 war exacerbated the threats to health already created by previous wars, tyranny and sanctions. Its direct and indirect impacts have probably damaged the material and mental ability of Iraqi society to reverse health decline. Conflict, criminality, social inequality, lack of democratic processes, political instability, presence of foreign military forces and decrepit essential infrastructure combine to damage health and arrest the development of a decentralised, primary care-based health system. There is a grave and immediate threat to the health of the Iraqi people, on top of their current sufferings. The need to find alternatives to violence and to resolve political differences peacefully could not be more urgent.

Nota: Vedi anche:

http://www.geocities.com/ippnwitalia
http://www.ippnw.org

Da Chiara Venturi, presente a Roma nei passati giorni del V Summit dei Premi Nobel per la pace, ecco il testo (in Inglese) del suo contributo, in rappresentanza di IPB-Italia.

• Clicca qui per il documento originale.
• Clicca qui per il documento in Italiano.

Report from Chiara Maria Venturi in representance of IPB-Italia.

1)The “Florence Appeal to prevent the scourge of war” illustrated at the world Nobel Prize summit organized in Rome by the Gorbachev Foundation.

2) Presentation of the book “ A tale for peace” and launching of the second edition of the literary prize “ A Tale for Peace”

The circulation of the “Florence Appeal to prevent the scourge of war” continues. The Appeal is the final document of the international conference organized by the Italian Office of the International Peace Bureau on the issue of “Peace and Human Security Aspects of U.N. Reform” which was held in Florence on September 25-26. University teachers, members of pacifist associations and experts from over 20 countries took part in the conference.

On November 3rd 2004 in New York, the Appeal was presented to Mr Anand Panyarachun, former Thai Prime Minister and Chair of the UN High- Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change which had the task to examine the possible reform of the organization. On November 8th 2004, Fulgida Barattoni, President of IPB-Italia, and Chiara Maria Venturi, Italian member of the International Peace Bureau Steering Committee, officially asked that the appeal be presented to the annual Nobel Prize summit organized by the Gorbachev Fundation-Italia in Rome so that its text could be part of the works of the summit and of an ever wider-ranging discussion.
The text of the appeal and its Italian translation are available on: www.ipb-italia-org.

Therefore the IPB delegation, formed by Jonathan Granhoff (President of the Global Security Institute) and Alyn Ware (IPB Vice-President) distributed the text of the Florence Appeal to the Nobel Prize Laureates, who took it into account as a positive support for the High-Level Panel work.

We have also faxed the text of the Appeal to Walter Veltroni, Mayor of Rome and to the President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi to let them know what important meeting took place in Italy, in Florence on 25-26 September as an example of how civil society is well and alive, and alerted towards such an important issue as the UN reform and its implications for the whole world’s peace and security status.

On November 12th and 13th the I.P.B.+ delegation was joined by two IPB Italia members, Chiara Venturi, IPB Italy Scientific Committee, and Lara Alpi journalist, who had the opportunity to have informal meetings and interviews with the Nobel Laureates, during which material highlighting IPB Italia activities was distributed, i.e. copies of the book “ A Tale for Peace”.

The Italian delegation also joined the IPB delegation both during the press conference and the previous strategy meeting with the Nobel prize winners which took place on Saturday morning, November 12th, and gave active contribution to the session concerning the dissemination of the Nobel Prize Winners’ final statement by suggesting its distribution to the mailing list “ Focus Group” and to the schools.

The high level of efficiency, capacity and diplomacy of the IPB delegation in the persons of Alyn Ware and Jonathan Granhoff was of great support and contributed to the successful partecipation of the IPB Italia members.

Meanwhile in Lugo both the book “A Tale for Peace” containing the winning tales of the first edition of the literary prize and the second edition of the prize were officially launched to the press and to the local authorities.

The second edition is honored by the following sponsors and supporters:
- M.I.U.R. - Ministry of Education, Letizia Moratti
- UNESCO Italian Commission– Dott. Mario Vecchione
- C.R.I. Red Cross Italy– Avv. Maurizio Scelli-Isp. II.VV. CRI Mila Braghetti Peretti.
- Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna University - representative of Magnifico Rettore .
- Bologna University “Conservazione dei Beni Culturali” - Prof. A. Panaino
- Bologna University “Scuola Traduttori e Interpreti SSLIMIT”- Prof. G. Aston
- Gorbachev Foundation– Dr. Marzio Dallagiovanna
- ASSOKIPLING – ANIOC and other friends of IPB Italia.
- the President of the Regional Council of Tuscany Dr. Riccardo Nencini.

Senator Mario Luzi, the famous Italian poet, Nobel Prize candidate for literature and bestowed with many important literary prizes will act as the Honorary President of our prize.

Esportare la pace attraverso l’educazione e la partecipazione dei giovani. Questo l’obiettivo di Ipb-Italia, l’ufficio nazionale autonomo con sede a Lugo di Romagna della più antica e vasta federazione mondiale di associazioni pacifiste, ricordato durante la cerimonia con la quale venerdì 5 novembre sono stati consegnati i diplomi di merito a 23 studentesse e studenti: 12 dell’Università di Scienze internazionali e diplomatiche Ruffilli e 9 della SSLIMIT per interpreti e traduttori di Forlì, 1 di Economia e commercio di Forlì e 1 di Medicina veterinaria di Ozzano Emilia.

Nella sala Gandolfi di Palazzo Mangelli di Forlì, alla presenza dei loro docenti, del pro-rettore Guido Gambetta, di Guy Aston, direttore della SSLIMIT, di Alberto Labate, della Facoltà di operatori di pace di Firenze, e dell’assessore all’Università del Comune di Forlì, Gian Franco Marzocchi, i ragazzi hanno ricevuto gli attestati che premiano la loro partecipazione alla riuscita del progetto avviato da IPB Italia per la riforma delle Nazioni Unite. Progetto culminato con l’organizzazione del convegno internazionale di Firenze il 25 e 26 settembre scorso, che ha visto la partecipazione di esperti, giuristi, membri di Ong e associazioni, e soprattutto la stesura del documento finale denominato l’«Appello di Firenze contro il flagello della guerra». «Il gruppo degli studenti ha svolto un lavoro prezioso – ha commentato Fulgida Barattoni, presidente di IPB Italia -, un lavoro di ricerca e studio, di analisi dei documenti prodotti dalla società civile, sintetizzandoli ed elaborandoli, sia come ‘ponte linguistico’ con l’indispensabile traduzione di quanto veniva prodotto. Una collaborazione, quella tra IPB e il mondo universitario che speriamo possa svilupparsi sempre più. I ragazzi attraverso le nostre attività possono usufruire di una sorta di palestra per i loro studi, mentre IPB non potrà che beneficiare della freschezza delle loro idee e delle loro capacità».

Il documento prodotto durante il convegno di Firenze è stato presentato ufficialmente il 3 novembre ad Anand Panyarachun, presidente dell’Alta Commissione costituita dal segretario generale delle Nazioni Unite Kofi Annan con mandato di esaminare la possibile riforma dell’Istituto sotto il profilo della pace e della sicurezza umana. La presidente dell’International Peace Bureau, Cora Weiss, era accompagnata da Massimo Toschi, vincitore dell’edizione 2004 di «Una favola per la pace», il premio letterario internazionale promosso da IPB Italia insieme al Comune di Lugo.

Link alle immagini e a passati articoli:

• La riforma delle Nazioni Unite passa dall’università di Forlì
• Le immagini dell’evento

COMUNICATO STAMPA

Al Summit Mondiale dei Premi Nobel per la Pace che si terrà al Campidoglio dal 10 al 13 novembre p.v. parteciperà anche il medico italiano Michele Di Paolantonio nella delegazione dell’Internazionale Medici per la Prevenzione della Guerra Nucleare (IPPNW), organizzazione Premio Nobel per la Pace 1985.

Iscritto all’Ordine dei Medici della Provincia di Teramo, fece parte il 10 dicembre 1985 della delegazione medica mondiale presente in Aula, ad Oslo, per la consegna del Premio Nobel per la Pace 1985 a tale organizzazione. Curatore delle edizioni italiane del Rapporto dell’Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità:”Effetti della Guerra Nucleare sulla Salute e sui Servizi Sanitari” e del Rapporto delle Nazioni Unite: “Armi Nucleari: studio onnicomprensivo”, durante il Summit 2003 presentò il rapporto inedito dell’Internazionale Medici “Danno Collaterale Continuo: gli effetti della guerra in Iraq sulla salute e sull’ambiente”, che fissava in 50.000 morti i costi in vite umane in Iraq dal marzo all’ottobre 2003. Il dott. Di Paolantonio, Presidente della Sezione Italiana dell’IPPNW, è membro del focus group dell’International Peace Bureau (IPB), la più antica organizzazione Premio Nobel per la Pace, che ha tenuto recentemente a Firenze il Seminario Mondiale su “Pace e Sicurezza Umana nella Riforma delle Nazioni Unite” le cui conclusioni note alle Nazioni Unite come “Florence Appeal” sono state consegnate al Presidente dell’Alta Commissione per la Riforma delle Nazioni Unite che sta concludendo a New York i suoi lavori. Il dott. Di Paolantonio è stato nel marzo 2003 tra i fondatori di IPB-Italia, presieduta dalla dott.ssa Fulgida Barattoni.

Riceviamo da Massimo Toschi, nostro socio alle Nazioni Unite, la cronaca della cerimonia di consegna del documento prodotto dal “Focus Group”.

Il 3 novembre 2004 (giorno dei risultati delle elezioni presidenziali americane) presso il Millenium Hotel, affacciato sul Ground Zero, Cora Weiss, Presidente dell’International Peace Bureau, accompagnata da Alyn Ware, membro del IPB Council e da Massimo Toschi, in rappresentaza di I.P.B. - Italia, ha presentato l’”Appello di Firenze contro il flagello della guerra” a Anand Panyarachun, ex-primo ministro tailandese e Presidente dell’Alta Commissione costituita nel settembre 2003 dal Segretario Generale delle Nazioni Unite Kofi Annan con mandato di esaminare la possibile riforma dell’Istituto sotto il profilo della pace e della sicurezza umana.

• Le foto dell’evento