Sanctions kills over one million children, Iraqi health minister

Over 1,261,917 children died between 1990 and 1999 following the embargo imposed on Iraq, Iraqi health Minister said.

The number of dead children aged below five reached, during the same period, about 508.961, and more than 755,983 children aged above five died, according to documents released recently by the Iraqi health department.

Respiratory diseases, diarrhea, enteritis, malnutrition are the main causes of death among children aged below five, while children above five died of heart problems, diabetes or cancer, the source added.

Infant death rate amounts to 92.7 for every one thousand childbirths.

The percentage of children born with a weight less than 2.5 Kg nationwide increased from 1.5% in 1990 to 23% in 1999.