BRITAIN: International health experts have written an open letter to the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, asking him to consider the health impacts of a war on Iraq.
The letter, published simultaneously in today's editions of the British Medical Journal and The Lancet, is signed by Dr Carolyn Stephens on behalf of 500 staff, students and alumni of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The signatories state that they oppose the use of military intervention in Iraq and that "we hope this letter contributes to an informed discussion amongst members of the government and the public".
Quoting from a recent study by Medact, a UK charity of nurses, doctors and other health professionals, the letter predicts that the total number of deaths on both sides during a conflict with Iraq could be as high as 260,000.
"Civil war in Iraq could add another 20,000 deaths. Additional later deaths from post-war adverse health effects could reach 200,000. In all scenarios the majorities of casualties will be civilian" according to the Medact report.
On a broader humanitarian front, the health experts predict that three million people in Iraq will require "therapeutic feeding" as a direct result of war.
They estimate that two million people will require assistance with shelter.