Toxic Footprint of Syria's War

Aug 2, 2014 | Insight on Conflict
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Pieter Both and Wim Zwijnenburg, from PAX, discuss the long term health and environmental impacts of Syria's civil war.

Syria’s ongoing civil war has already resulted in over hundred-and-fifty thousand casualties and has brought enormous destruction in cities and towns all over the country. Apart from the direct impact of the armed conflict on the lives and livelihoods of Syrian citizens, health and environmental impacts are emerging as problems that deserve immediate as well as long term attention.

This war leaves behind a toxic footprint resulting both directly and indirectly from military origin contamination, such as by heavy metals in munitions, toxic residues from artillery and other bombs, the destruction of buildings and water resources, the targeting of industrial zones and the looting of chemical facilities. The scale of military activity in Syria over the past three years suggests that contaminants and indirect pollution will have a long-term toxic legacy for the environment and can contribute to widespread public health problems for years to come.

Amid prolonged violence, it is too early to assess the full scope of hazards to human and environmental health across Syria formed by toxic or radiological substances that result from munitions and military activities. However, early mapping as part of PAX’ new desk-top study on Syria already reveals a range of problems in certain areas.

http://www.insightonconflict.org/2014/07/toxic-footprint-syrias-war/