Iraqi children are dying - you can save them
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference."IRAQ'S CHILDREN are going through hell," Robert Fisk notes today in his latest dispatch from Iraq. The Iraqi regime deserves no defenders. And yet, as Fisk's reports this week have made clear, it is the innocent who have suffered most.
Readers telephoned throughout the day yesterday, pledging support for The Independent's appeal to collect funds for sick children in Iraq. Established aid agencies were supportive. The United Nations made it clear that authorisation will follow quickly. Even the British government - which initially suggested that there would be several weeks of delay - said that permission could quickly be granted. Every application for export of medicines must be separately approved by three ministries: the Department of Health, the Foreign Office, and the Department of Trade and Industry.
The Independent will remain involved with ensuring that the drugs get directly to those who most need them. The Red Cross and the Birmingham- based Islamic Relief are among those who have said they are ready to offer practical help in getting the vital drugs to the right place.
Officials of the UN sanctions committee said that authorisation for medicines of the kind which The Independent is planning to send could be issued "within two or three days".
Medicines may be exported to Iraq, but remain in desperately short supply. The drugs include vincristine and methortrexate, urgently needed for treating leukaemia. There has been an explosion in the number of leukaemia cases in Iraq, as reported in Robert Fisk's harrowing reports. The cases appear to be connected with the bombardment of Iraq during the Gulf War, perhaps from fumes from burning oil refineries which contained carcinogens, or even from the bombing of Saddam Hussein's chemical warfare factories.
Many victims are Shia Muslims, the group which rebelled against Saddam in the south of Iraq in the wake of the Gulf War of 1991. That is one reason why the Iraqi government has seemed determined to turn a blind eye to the tragedy. The deliveries of drugs would be with the assistance of international agencies, but would not be controlled by the Iraqi regime.
t The Independent Iraq Appeal, PO Box 6870, 1 Canada Square, London E14 5BT.
Robert Fisk, page 18
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments