犧牲環境為代價 伊拉克聯軍收復摩蘇爾城 | 環境資訊中心
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犧牲環境為代價 伊拉克聯軍收復摩蘇爾城

2016年11月09日
摘譯自2016年11月3日ENS肯亞,奈洛比報導;姜唯編譯;蔡麗伶審校

3日,伊拉克聯軍包圍摩蘇爾,撤退的ISIL武裝分子採取焦土政策,縱火燃燒19口油井,導致北伊拉克居民發生呼吸困難和呼吸道疾病。

摩蘇爾被ISIL佔領超過兩年。9萬4000人伊拉克安全部隊、庫德族安全部隊自由戰士和數千名少數民族戰士參與解放摩蘇爾之戰。12至16支作戰部隊與美國特種部隊從南邊和東邊進入摩蘇爾,與伊拉克和庫德族安全部隊會合。美國官員指出,美國特種部隊正與伊拉克和庫德族安全部隊合作部署地面作戰、火砲和空襲。

指揮官表示,整個過程大概會持續數月。

因摩蘇爾戰爭而起的油井燃燒,導致嚴重空氣污染。攝於2016年10月21日。圖片來源:聯合國環境規劃署UNEP(CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

聯合國環境規劃署(United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP)指出,武裝分子縱火燃燒摩蘇爾東南部的19口油井,導致軍民皆暴露於有毒的濃煙之中。

燃燒原油產生許多污染物質,包括引起皮膚刺激和呼吸急促的煤煙和氣體。

10月底,摩蘇爾附近城鎮米什拉克(Mishraq)的硫磺工廠起火,大量有毒濃煙蔓延數十公里。

伊拉克衛生局在世界衛生組織協助下治療了超過1000名呼吸困難病患。

UNEP與聯合國人道事務協調辦公室(OCHA)合組的環境應變中心派出毒物專業應變人員,給予技術指導。

10月23日一處自來水廠受到攻擊氯氣外洩,導致100人送醫。

UNEP首長Erik Solheim表示,「這只是一連串不幸的開端,戰爭在伊拉克造成的環境傷害將會持續好幾十年,從被抽乾的沼澤到被污染的土地,環境管理系統徹底瓦解。這持續的生態屠殺將帶來長期的災難,讓生存環境變得惡劣不堪,創造空前的難民潮。這就是為什麼環境必須成為危機處理、衝突預防和解決的核心。」

將武裝衝突的環境傷害降到最低是UNEP的第一要務。UNEP正和OCHA、WHO和聯合國訓練研究所密切合作處理相關問題。

此外,UNEP也和聯合國衛星運作應用計畫(Operational Satellite Applications Programme),在衝突期間定位濃煙,減少有毒化學物質對人道應變人員的傷害。

這些事件顯示,為環境健康衝擊做準備是人道行動和危機應變不可或缺的一環,UNEP將在2017年7月奈洛比環境與應變論壇上探討。

戰爭在伊拉克造成的環境傷害將會持續好幾十年。攝於2016年10月21日。圖片來源:聯合國環境規劃署UNEP(CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Mosul Battle Triggers Environmental Damage
NAIROBI, Kenya, November 3, 2016 (ENS)

Civilians in Northern Iraq are suffering suffocation and respiratory illnesses due to what appears to be a scorched-earth policy employed by retreating ISIL militants following the launch of a major military offensive to retake the city of Mosul.

A 94,000-member coalition of Iraqi security forces, Kurdish Peshmerga allies and thousands of fighters from various minorities are involved in the operation to free Mosul from more than two years of ISIL rule. Commanders have told reporters the effort could take months to complete.

Moving in teams of 12 to 16 troops, U.S. special operations forces are alongside Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces converging on Mosul from the south and east. The U.S. teams are advising and coordinating with those forces on how to maneuver on the ground, and how to coordinate artillery and air attacks, U.S. officials said.

The United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, based in Nairobi, says 19 oil wells have been set ablaze by armed groups near Al Qayyarah, located southeast of Mosul, with citizens and armed forces alike exposed to the toxic fumes.

The burning crude oil produces many pollutants, including soot and gases that cause health problems such as skin irritation and shortness of breath.

In late October, stockpiles of sulphur dioxide stored at the Mishraq Sulphate Factory caught fire, sending up a large toxic cloud that spread over dozens of kilometres.

Iraq’s Directorate of Health, supported by the World Health Organization, treated over 1,000 cases of suffocation in Qayyarah, Ijhala, and Makhmour primary health care centers.

UNEP, through the Joint Environment Unit it runs with the UN Office for the Coordination Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, put responders in touch with hazardous materials experts, who provided technical advice on dealing with the fire.

On October 23 a water plant was reportedly affected by fighting, leading to a chlorine gas leak for which around 100 civilians sought medical treatment.

“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 UNEP chief Erik Solheim.

“This ongoing ecocide is a recipe for a prolonged disaster,” said Solheim. “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.”

Minimizing the damage to the environment from armed conflict remains a UNEP top priority. The organization is working closely with partners in Iraq like OCHA, WHO and the UN Institute for Training and Research.

UNEP is also working with the UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme, which has provided support to mapping smoke plumes during the offensive to minimize harmful impacts of chemical hazards on humanitarian responders.

These events show the need to prepare for environmental health impacts as part of humanitarian action and crisis response, a topic UNEP will continue working on, particularly at the 2017 Environment and Emergencies Forum taking place in Nairobi next June.

※ 全文及圖片詳見:ENS

作者

姜唯

如果有一件事是重要的,如果能為孩子實現一個願望,那就是人類與大自然和諧共存。

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.