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The Gulf war ended almost as soon as it began. But, six years down the line, the number of casualties is still mounting. Nina Montagu-Smith investigates
Six years ago, Andrew Courtney, 24, was on the front line during the Gulf war. "When I was there, there were dead animals all over the place. We didn't think too much about it at the time - we just put on rubber gloves and got rid of them. When I got back and thought about it, it started to seem really strange."
Desert fever
Courtney is one of many Gulf veterans who believe that they are suffering from what has become known as Gulf War Syndrome. He was once a fit and healthy soldier, trained for combat in the desert. Now he suffers constantly from stomach cramps, diarrhoea and headaches. But compared with others who fought and have come forward, his problems are relatively minor.
Other symptoms which have been reported include skin rashes, nausea, digestive problems, muscle spasms, muscle deterioration, fatigue, joint pain, lethargy, memory loss, sleeping problems, mood swings and birth defects. There have also been reports of cancers, suicides and, in one case, a man so sick that he has to live in a sterilized room. There was a time when the veterans just wanted to get better. Now many feel they can no longer watch and wait as, they say, governments and chemical companies sit idly by.
The Gulf war lasted just over one month, although many troops were there for almost a year. Casualties during the confrontation were relatively light but, six years later, the war is still taking its toll.
During their time in the desert, say the veterans, they were exposed to a cocktail of chemicals, oil fires and vaccinations which, they believe, is killing them. The problem is that nobody wants to identify what is causing their suffering and, according to most of them, nobody really seems to care.
Many strange things have happened to Andrew Courtney since he returned from serving in the Gulf. For one, his medical cards are incomplete. He knows he had 12 vaccinations before and during the war - he remembers them. But his shot record says he only had four. His medical...