Tag Archives: Health

Children, Health, Peace

‘Special Weapons’ Have a Fallout on Babies

InterPress Service

by Ali al-Fadhily and Dahr Jamail

FALLUJAH – Babies born in Fallujah are showing illnesses and deformities on a scale never seen before, doctors and residents say.

The new cases, and the number of deaths among children, have risen after “special weaponry” was used in the two massive bombing campaigns in Fallujah in 2004.

After denying it at first, the Pentagon admitted in November 2005 that white phosphorous, a restricted incendiary weapon, was used a year earlier in Fallujah. Continue reading ‘Special Weapons’ Have a Fallout on Babies →

Africa, Development, Health, Women and Children

Women Say Regional AIDS Plan Falls Short

By Nergui Manalsuren

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 10 (IPS) – Despite the admirable progress made by some African countries in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS since 2000, 14 million Africans have died of AIDS in that time span, and an additional 17 million have been infected, says a new report on HIV/AIDS on the continent.

According to the report “Securing Our Future” launched Monday by the Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa, the disease is reducing capacity in all social and economic sectors, undermining and slowing the overall development of the region. Continue reading Women Say Regional AIDS Plan Falls Short →

Africa, Congo, Development, Economic Justice, Extractive Industries

China to seal $9bn DR Congo deal

BBC

A pending contract between China and Congo will give Congo $6bn of desperately needed infrastructure – about 2,400 miles of road, 2,000 miles of railway, 32 hospitals, 145 health centres and two universities. In return, China wiii get a slice of Congo’s precious natural resources to feed its booming industries – 10m tonnes of copper and 400,000 tonnes of cobalt. More