Iraqi malnutrition rates have nearly doubled...

...according to the U.N., as reported by AP:

Malnutrition among the youngest Iraqis has almost doubled since the U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein, a hunger specialist told the U.N. human rights body Wednesday in a summary of previously reported studies on health in Iraq.

By last fall, 7.7% of Iraqi children under 5 suffered acute malnutrition, compared to 4% after Saddam's ouster in April 2003, said Jean Ziegler, the U.N. Human Rights Commission's special expert on the right to food.

Malnutrition, which is exacerbated by a lack of clean water and adequate sanitation, is a major killer of children in poor countries. Children who survive are usually physically and mentally impaired for life, and are more vulnerable to disease.

The situation facing Iraqi youngsters is "a result of the war led by coalition forces," said Ziegler, an outspoken Swiss sociology professor and former lawmaker whose previous targets have included Swiss banks, China, Brazil and Israeli treatment of Palestinians.

As you may have heard in the course of last year's presidential race, there was never a defined plan to restore much of Iraq's energy and water infrastructures after we bombed them to bits during the invasion. The task of getting electrcity generators back online, for example, was eventually contracted to the multinational corporation Bechtel for billions of dollars. The company quickly fell behind schedule in its repairs. Because of mismanagement like this, Baghdad and the outlying cities surrounding it have only intermittent electricity totaling at about seven or eight hours per day. Not only does this make life difficult for ordinary Iraqis at home, obviously, but also for hospitals, police stations, and stores. The power outages and also lack of running water, therefore, affect the availability and quality of healthcare, the competence of security forces, and the Iraqi economy itself.

What is the result of all this? More Iraqi children are sick or going hungry than ever before: "more than a quarter of Iraqi children don't get enough to eat." As long as the occupation continues and the corporations control the infrastructure, it's unlikely that this state of affairs will improve in the near future. This then, is yet another reason to speak out and oppose the illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq.

Today and every other Friday until the occupation ends, you can come help protest at the weekly peace vigil at the Capitol adjacent to 11th St. and Congress. You don't need to bring anything to prepare; Austin Against War provides the signs and posters. The vigil is from 5-6PM, but you can stay for as long or as short as you wish. Hope to see you there.