Iraqi workers break open batteries to recover the lead dumping the acid on the ground
I recently received this email and photos. I can not confirm the accuracy of Mr. Iqbal Mawji claims below. What I can confirm is there is little or no regard for environmental or personal protection amongst the majority of citizens in Iraq. Poverty prevails and Iraqi’s are just trying to survive.
There is little or no regard for environmental protection amongst DoD contractors. This has been proven time and time again with open pit burning, burning of recyclables, dumping raw sewer in the rivers….etc. Do I think there could be a pile of busted open leaking batteries at a battery recycling location? Absolutely!
If Mr Iqbal Mawji claims are true, it is an environmental disaster. A disaster that we as taxpayers will be required to clean up. It could cost billions to clean up this and other environmental waste disasters!! Not to mention the lasting adverse health affects on workers and citizens.
Then there is the whole issue of The DoD not properly overseeing this contract. This has to stop NOW!!
Subject: U.S. Military causing Environmental Disaster in Baghdad Area
Dear Sir,
We need your assistance and guidance in an Environmental Hazard that was created by the US Army units in Iraq. The loss of human life is occurring.
For the last 4 years a US Government contractor in Iraq has been dumping U.S. Military waste fuel, oil, anti-freeze and other liquid waste (POL based) products into the water supplies of Iraq. The same contractor is also disposing of several hundred of thousand U. S. Military lead-acid batteries in the local commodities market. The buyers are then discarding the acid into the environment and water supply before processing the recoverable lead.
Additionally, large amounts of the waste oils that are not cleanable are sold to local bakeries in Baghdad. The bakeries use the highly contaminated oil to bake fresh bread on a daily basis. Doctors in Baghdad are reporting higher cases of thyroid cases and sickliness’ to children but lack the capability to determine the cause or source. Many deaths have also been reported and the cause is believed to be an unidentified environmental contamination.
It is our belief that the dumping of these toxic substances is creating an Environmental Disaster in Baghdad and the loss of human life is occurring. We request your assistance in investigating this crime and loss of life. We do not have the capability to test for these contamination’s in the humans affected or the capability to investigate the totality of the disaster being committed.
We have been able to collect the below information to start the investigation and request your involvement and help.
In Dec. 2006 the US Army and DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) issued the below contracts to an Iraqi-UK company for the collection and disposal of all Hazards Materials generated by US Military forces in Iraq, The contracts were awarded to SIGMA Group International (also known in Iraq as Nahwa Al Isdihar Company). This company is based at Camp Victory near Baghdad, Iraq. The owner is an Iraqi-British subject by the name of Aws Al Orfali, his brother Ammar Al Orfali (Iraqi citizen) runs the operations and sales of Hazardous materials after they are collected from the military bases.
The below contracts were issued to Sigma Group International, also known as (Nahwa Al Isdihar Company). Company is registered in the UK as SIGMA GENERAL TRADING LTD, business registration number 6666597.
Contracts:
W91GER-07-A-0003 Blanket Purchase Agreement
39-6101-0002 Sales Contract
The American Government Contracting Agent responsible for these 2 contracts is;
Donald B. Zimmerman
Sales Contracting Officer
Southwest Asia Sales
Don.Zimmerman@dla.mil
don.zimmerman@dla.mil
Commercial 001 (269) 961-7593
Cell 001 (269) 967-0905
Commercial Fax 001 (269) 961-4162
DRMS-J31
74 N. Washington Ave
Battle Creek, MI USA 49037
We are in contact with current and former employees of Sigma Group International and they are willing to provide details and records of the above sales, as well as records on who the local buyers of the hazardous materials are. These employees request protection in case of retaliation from the Iraqi owners or their agents. The employee who can provide us most details is Dr. Sam N. Sharif
Please contact us if you are able to help or provide guidance.
Thank you,
Mr Iqbal Mawji
Save Iraq (dot) net
manager@saveiraq.net
Bet KBR is chomping at the bit – hoping they might get a huge gov’t. contract to clean-up this mess!
How is this going to paint us in the eyes of these poor Iraqi’s?
Can’t get my mind around this and those that have been exposed to the burn pits (all of us).