Birth defects rise in Falluja
Less than a month before the final pullout of U.S. troops, residents of Falluja wonder what the future will bring.
Many are still waiting for compensation to repair destroyed homes and infrastructure.
Families and doctors say there is a significant rise in birth defects, many blaming the increase on U.S. weapons and chemicals.
Civil servant Amir Hussein lost his four-year-old son due to brain damage last year.
His second child is prone to skin rashes and has one leg that is longer than the other.
(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) AMIR HUSSEIN A RESIDENT OF FALLUJA
"I decided to stop having babies. I do not want to fight another battle after my first one. I spent two years with him, may his soul rest in peace, in hospitals and with doctors. I am too tired, I do not want to risk a new battle, which will also be a losing one."
Falluja served as a base of operations after the 2003 invasion led by the U.S.
It was also the site of bloody fighting between joint military forces and insurgents in 2004 that saw the city overwhelmed by tanks, fighter jets and helicopter gunships.
Experts say the rebuilding process has barely begun and that it will cost billions of dollars.
(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) DEPUTY HEAD OF THE RECONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE, FAWZI MUDHEN, SAYING:
"A quick survey by the reconstruction committee at the time showed that the city needs 500 million dollars to reconstruct infrastructure and 500 million dollars to rebuild houses. In fact, a large number of houses has been greatly damaged with more than 6,000 houses completely damaged and levelled to the ground."
The deteriorating quality of life has been the basis of many complaints here, but few feel they will ever receive appropriate compensation for lost homes or hospital bills before foreign troops leave for good.
Jessica Gray, Reuters
Many are still waiting for compensation to repair destroyed homes and infrastructure.
Families and doctors say there is a significant rise in birth defects, many blaming the increase on U.S. weapons and chemicals.
Civil servant Amir Hussein lost his four-year-old son due to brain damage last year.
His second child is prone to skin rashes and has one leg that is longer than the other.
(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) AMIR HUSSEIN A RESIDENT OF FALLUJA
"I decided to stop having babies. I do not want to fight another battle after my first one. I spent two years with him, may his soul rest in peace, in hospitals and with doctors. I am too tired, I do not want to risk a new battle, which will also be a losing one."
Falluja served as a base of operations after the 2003 invasion led by the U.S.
It was also the site of bloody fighting between joint military forces and insurgents in 2004 that saw the city overwhelmed by tanks, fighter jets and helicopter gunships.
Experts say the rebuilding process has barely begun and that it will cost billions of dollars.
(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) DEPUTY HEAD OF THE RECONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE, FAWZI MUDHEN, SAYING:
"A quick survey by the reconstruction committee at the time showed that the city needs 500 million dollars to reconstruct infrastructure and 500 million dollars to rebuild houses. In fact, a large number of houses has been greatly damaged with more than 6,000 houses completely damaged and levelled to the ground."
The deteriorating quality of life has been the basis of many complaints here, but few feel they will ever receive appropriate compensation for lost homes or hospital bills before foreign troops leave for good.
Jessica Gray, Reuters