Five organizations of the survivors of the Union Carbide disaster today addressed a press conference on the recently published scientific study on the health impact of the disaster on children who were in the wombs of their mothers when they inhaled the poisonous gas.
The organisations working among the survivors of the 1984 Union Carbide disaster have written to the Chief Minister apprising him of the fact that 75% of the city’s COVID-19 deaths are of Bhopal gas victims and those exposed to MIC are bearing the brunt of this epidemic. The deaths of gas victims caused by the Novel CoronaVirus infection establishes the fact that after 35years the medical condition of gas victims is fragile as they have suffered permanent damage due to exposure to Union Carbide’s toxic gases. “It is precisely for this reason that we are requesting the Chief Minister to correct the figures in the curative petition pending in the Supreme Court and seek adequate compensation for 5,21,322 for the permanent injury caused to them by Union Carbide & Dow Chemical,” says Rashida Bee of Bhopal Gas Peedit Stationary Karmchari Sangh.
Survivors of the Bhopal Gas Disaster are more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19 due to respiratory and other health impacts of the Bhopal gas disaster.
In order to address the local impacts of the Pandemic, an Action Plan for a Community Based Response to COVID 19 in the population severely and moderately affected by the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal has been created. You can view it below or download it here.
In a letter addressed to Union Health Minister, Govt of India, DG-Indian Council of Medical Research, Secretary, Dept of Chemical & Petrochemicals (Bhopal Cell), Govt of India & to Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh & Principal Secretary, Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief & Rehabilitation, Govt of MP, Bhopal gas survivors organisations have asked the concerned officials to take immediate steps for
identification, testing of medical care of COVID-19 in the population affected by the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the Chairman of Supreme Court appointed
Monitoring Committee for medical rehabilitation of Bhopal gas victims.