Rise in Cancer and Skin Diseases in Dera Ghazi Khan Due to Radioactive Waste: Baloch Women Forum

In Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan, there has been a significant increase in cancer and skin disease cases. The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) attributes this to the extraction of radioactive materials and the improper disposal of waste in the Koh-i-Sulaiman mountains.

Health Issues Reported

The BWF report, titled ‘Their denial and our silence both are killing Baloch,’ highlights a rise in illnesses such as bone marrow problems, liver cancer, lung cancer, kidney illness, bone cancer, facial tumors, and intestinal cancer among locals.

Causes of the Health Crisis

The BWF states that the extraction of uranium and the dumping of radioactive waste in the Koh-i-Sulaiman mountains are the main reasons for these health issues. The report mentions that many young people have been affected, with some losing their lives to cancer.

Mining Operations

Mining operations in the area began in 1977 after the discovery of rare earth minerals, including Uranium-235 and U-238, in the 1960s. Eight mining sites, including Vashafi, Delana, Zain, Nagarnai (Rakhi Gaj), Sawa Prag, Gohand, and Baghalchar, are currently active.

Impact on Local Communities

The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission has restricted local movement and forcibly evicted people from their lands. The report states that 60 to 80 percent of people in these areas suffer from liver diseases and cancer, a rate much higher than in other cities.