IS burning of Iraq's oil installations spells environmental disaster - UNEP

IRBIL, Oct 28 (KUNA) -- Civilians in Northern Iraq are falling victim of suffocation and respiratory illnesses, due to what appears to be a scorched-earth policy employed by retreating so-called Islamic state (IS) militants following the launch of a major military offensive to retake the city of Mosul, said united nations environment programme (UNEP) in statement.
At least 19 oil wells have been set ablaze by armed groups near Al-Qayyarah south-east of Mosul, with citizens and armed forces exposed to toxic fumes.
The burning crude oil produces a wide range of pollutants, including soot and gases that cause health problems such as skin irritation and shortness of breath.
The Directorate of Health, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), treated over 1,000 cases of suffocation in Qayyarah, Ijhala, and Makhmour primary health care centers, late last week when stockpiles of sulphur dioxide stored at the Mishraq Sulphate factory caught fire, leading to a large toxic cloud plume spreading over dozens of kilometers.
"This is sadly just the latest episode in what has been the wholesale destruction of Iraq's environment over several decades from the draining of the marshlands to the contamination of land and the collapse of environmental management systems," said UN Environment chief Erik Solheim.
"This ongoing ecocide is a recipe for a prolonged disaster. It makes living conditions dangerous and miserable, if not impossible. It will push countless people to join the unprecedented global refugee population. That's why the environment needs to be placed at the center of crisis response, conflict prevention and conflict resolution," he added.
The events highlight the need to prepare for environmental health impacts as part of humanitarian action and crisis response, a topic UN Environment will continue working on including at the 2017 Environment and Emergencies Forum taking place in Nairobi next June. (end) sbr.ss