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UK: Inquiry says “Gulf War syndrome” is real

01 November 2004

The Lloyd inquiry into Gulf War Syndrome has concluded that there is “every reason” to accept that thousand of veterans of the first Gulf war had suffered ill health as a result of the conflict. The inquiry, which was headed by the retired judge, Lord Lloyd of Berwick, was set up after government reluctance to pursue the issue (see Statewatch Vol. 14 no. 5). The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has consistently denied that Gulf War Syndrome exists and the report advocates that it set up a special fund to pay compensation to the victims. The MoD refused an official inquiry and did not cooperate with the Lloyd inquiry. A US government report concluded that combat-related stress was probably the cause in 1996. The Lloyd report says that scientific studies demonstrate that the illness was likely to be due to a number of causes, including multiple vaccinations, the use of organophosphate pesticides to spray tents and the inhalation of depleted uranium munitions. It urges the British government to acknowledge the illness. There are thought to be 6,000 former soldiers who are suffering with undiagnosed symptoms such as chronic fatigue, loss of muscle control, diarrhoea, dizziness and loss of memory. Summary of the findings can be found at: www.gulfveteransassociation.co.uk/Files/lloydreportresume171104.pdf