A government official revealed today, Saturday, the detection of two cancer hotspots in agricultural areas east of Diyala Governorate. Hamid Al-Anbaki, the director of the Al-Salam district (30 km east of Baqubah), stated that "over the past two years, there has been a reported increase in cancer cases in the center of Al-Salam district and the villages of Al-Anbaki, with the toll rising day by day, as more than 40 cases have been recorded. The numbers might exceed this significantly if comprehensive tests are not conducted, as cancer is only detected at a late stage, which is currently happening."
He added that "suspicions are directed towards mobile phone communication towers, especially after the water file and other matters that could raise doubts were examined. However, a common point in the affected areas is the presence of towers, one of which was shut down to reassure residents and reduce psychological pressure and fear of the disease's spread."
Al-Anbaki called for "the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the spread of cancer cases, which should be neutral and provide a final report that answers residents' questions about the causes of cancer and whether the towers have a direct connection to the suffering of dozens of families." It is worth noting that residents in several areas describe communication towers as carriers of cancer, following the registration of dozens of cases in the alleys nearby in regions of Baqubah and Khales.
