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Although the Pentagon first denied the use of white phosphorous, a restricted incendiary weapon at first it later admitted that the chemical was used in 2004. In addition to the phosphorous at least 1,200 tonnes of depleted uranium (DU) munitions, which contain low-level radioactive waste have been used in the area.

Doctors believe the use of DU is one cause of increased cancer cases in Iraq and among U.S. troops that served during the 1991 Gulf War.

"We saw all the colours of the rainbow coming out of the exploding American shells and missiles," Ali Sarhan, a 50-year-old teacher who lived through the two U.S. sieges of 2004 told IPS. "I saw bodies that turned into bones and coal right after they were exposed to bombs that we learned later to be phosphorus.

"The most worrying is that many of our women have suffered loss of their babies, and some had babies born with deformations."

"I had two children who had brain damage from birth," 28-year-old Hayfa' Shukur told IPS. "My husband has been detained by the Americans since November 2004 and so I had to take the children around by myself to hospitals and private clinics. They died. I spent all our savings and borrowed a considerable amount of money."

Doctors in the area will admit orally to the parents of these children that restricted weapons are the root of their conditions but not on paper. The Fallujah General Hospital administration refused to give any stats on infants born with deformities. Doctors that did speak feared reprisals if it was revealed that they gave information out.

"Many babies were born with major congenital malformations," a paediatric doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity, told IPS. "These infants include many with heart defects, cleft lip or palate, Down's syndrome, and limb defects."

The doctor added, "I can say all kinds of problems related to toxic pollution took place in Fallujah after the November 2004 massacre."

The hospitals in the area are struggling to keep up with the stresses that injuries have put on them. Basic supplies like water is a matter of concern in certain areas.

The government is trying to make changes.

Iraqi Health Minister Salih al-Hassnawi highlighted the shortage of medicines at a press conference in Arbil in the Kurdistan region in the north Feb. 22. "The Iraqi Health Ministry is suffering from an acute shortage of medicines...We have decided to import medicines immediately to meet the needs."

Those changes though will not help those that have already had to pay the high cost of this war, the children born with special needs.