'Deformed embryos' due to primitive oil refineries, chemical weapons

By Mohamed Al Hussein; Translation by Yusra Ahmed

AL HASAKAH (Zaman Al Wasl)- Many cases of congenital deformity were recorded, and happened at monthly bases in al-Hasakah province in Eastern North of Syria, medical source confirmed told Zaman al-Wasl.

Most of the cases were skulls' absence, known as "frog-like-baby", or case of spina bifida, which results from problems in cohesion of the spinal tract, medical sources revealed.

Many believed that health and conditions which women live in may be reasons behind those conditions. While other accuse inhaling air polluted with poisonous gases resulting from residuals of primary oil refineries, or contacting “phosphor” resulting from primary oil’s burning especially in fireplaces.

The source expressed his fears of increasing of long term congenital deformity in future as a result of using primary oil. “Air has become too polluted as you can see a black cloud over towns of al-Shadadi and Rmilan, where plants and even sheeps’ wool have become blackish”

The source requested the International organisations to study the condition and reasons behind it, especially after the number of deformed births reached to 3-4 monthly.

An oil refinement expert confirmed that direct expose to residuals of primary refineries badly affect people, because oil contains some radioactive materials, which affect workers leading to alteration in their “genetic map” resulting in deformation among their children. “However women’s exposing to those material leads to direct effect and appears in her children as congenital deformation”

There is no effective medical services and follow up in Hasaka, especially the countryside, as pregnant women do not get to know their fetuses’ condition, amid the widespread of primary refineries, which expose women to risk factors of deformation.