Wars Destruction in the Middle East

The ongoing World Social Forum witnesses numerous assemblies on environmental issues in an unprecedented manner. Statistics show Israeli and US agression in Middle East deprived millions from healthy lives by destroying food sources.

Çiğdem Mater

One of the unique aspects of the ongoing World Social Forum in Nairobi is the number of serious and comprehensive meetings on environmental issues.

Important statistics about the Middle East were revealed at the assembly titled "Hunger and Right to Nourishment", organized by Arabs for the Protection of Nature Group, Conflict Working Group and International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty.

Here are some excerpts:

Palestine: During the war of 1948, 550 villages were deprived of their ability of agricultural ability, farm land were destroyed.

Between 2000 and 2003, 1 million 345 thousand trees were cut off; 928 thousand 984 meters of water channels, 1 327 water tanks, 770 agricultural silos were destroyed. 754 chicken farms no longer exists; 900 000 of poultry and 15 000 cattle were squandered.

Lebanon: Only in the last Israeli aggression in summer 2006 the agricultural sector's losses amounted up to 400 million dolars. During the conflict 4 600 cattle, 35 000 sheep were killed; 1 000 acres of farm land and 1 800 acres of olive trees were destroyed.

The oil leak following Israel's attack on the refineries caused great harm to fishers.

Iraq: Since the occupation's beginning in March 2003, coalition forces dropped 124 thousand tons of bombs on Iraqi soil. While there're no exact statistics on natural resources, sources report that their condition isn't good.

Data from May 2006 show that 25 percent of children suffer from malnourishment in Iraq.(CM/EÜ)

Çiğdem Mater