Chemical attacks that have rocked Syria throughout the course of the war which has ravaged the country are causing birth defects. Within the past year, 270 babies, mostly from the Idlib, Raqqa and the Ghouta regions, were born with birth defects. Experts say that the sole reason for birth defects such as babies with two heads, external hearts, three legs or no feet is the chemical attacks.
Over 100 chemical attacks
Syrian doctors on the field say that the U.S. and Syrian regime used chlorine gas 86 times and Sarin gas 18 times, bringing the total to 104 attacks. Dr. Abdulhanan Cuce alleged that the U.S. conducted four chemical attacks in and around Raqqa between 2016 and 2017, and that the price of the chemical attacks carried out jointly with the Assad regime was being paid by newborn babies.
Over one million Syrians affected
The general manager of Sema Association, which is an umbrella organization for 39 hospitals and health centers, Dr. Cuce said that 1.25 million people were affected by chemical attacks in the Idlib, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, Hama and Homs districts. He added that that the attack would have a serious and lasting impact on 50,000 people, a mild impact on 350,000 civilians and lightly impact 850,000.
Impacts to last a decade
“Those who were subjected to chemical attacks will be impacted for the next decade,” said Dr. Cuce. Adding that throat, skin and stomach cancer cases will increase every year, Dr. Cuce said that those who are exposed chemical attacks will be inflicted with serious ailments in the coming years.
PKK also conducts chemical attacks
Dr. Ahmed Abdullah, who assessed births based on chemical bombings in the eastern regions of Syria, noted that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has also carried out chlorine attacks on Raqqa, Deir el-Zor and Manbij.
Dr. Abdullah said the U.S. and the PKK have not carried out attacks in regions such as Kobani, Rasul Ayn and Hasakah – areas which were occupied by Daesh – and added that the sensitivity shown to Kurdish dominated regions is not shown to Arab and Turkmen dominated regions.
Autopsies available
Dr. Abdullah stated that there were many abnormal births in the Raqqa, Manbij and Deir el-Zor regions. “The U.S. and the PKK are preventing these events from being shown in the media and there is extraordinary pressure regarding this issue. However, we have autopsy reports on these births and chemical deaths. One day, the punishment of these crimes will surely be given,” said Dr. Abdullah.
