The Despouy report highlights interrelationship between violations of the rules of war and disability.
War causes immense physical and psychological harm.
Humanitarian law requires that parties to war must be prepared for the medical needs of both military and civilians with war-caused illnesses or disabilities. When the needs of these injured or disabled persons are not fully met there is a double violation. This occurred in the Gulf War. The use of weapons containing depleted uranium by the United States in the Gulf War has resulted in thousands of newly disabled persons in Iraq. Because of the gravity of the medical sitaution in Iraq our organization is convinced that continuation of sanctions clearly violates international law, especially to the degree sanctions effects medical care.