Medicine for Peace in Iraq
Medicine
For Peace medical teams arrived in Iraq shortly after the
Gulf War cease fire. In the aftermath of the Coalition bombing
and UN embargo, the teams found an epidemic of waterborne
infections and widespread malnutrition resulting in the deaths
of thousands of infants and children. MFP's documentary films
on the plight of Iraqi children were the first images on this
subject shown on national television in the United States,
Europe and Japan. MFP has published a number of in-depth reports
on the health crisis in Iraq, (MFP Reports #1,2), which
have been distributed world-wide. MFP physicians and nurses
have testified before Congress, to the US State Department,
United Nations Agencies and non-governmental organizations
on the plight of Iraqi children.
The
New York Times said the following about MFP's documentary film
on Iraqi children,
"...the
Medicine For Peace documentary, 'Children of the Cradle',
is a moving poignant program. The issue is children dying.
It is an up close look at children in pain who need help,
which most people are not aware of".
In 1994, MFP began a long term study of the health of children
in the Hurria district, a poor section in northwest Baghdad.
This study showed that children in Baghdad were among the most
malnourished in the Middle East with levels of nutritional deprivation
in excess of that found in refugee camps and was presented to
the U.N. Security Council.
Between 1991-1995, MFP transported over $1 million in desperately
needed pediatric medicine to Iraq, established pediatric clinics,
and brought 25 children to the United States for open heart
surgery. following recent intervention in Iraq, MFP has re-established
medical and public health programs in Iraq . Our current activities
can be followed in the "news" section of the front
page.
