More than 100 medical journals have joined forces to issue a dire warning about the increasing potential for a catastrophic nuclear conflict, particularly with countries like Russia amassing their doomsday arsenals. The journals expressed grave concern that a large-scale nuclear war between the US and Russia could result in the death of over 200 million people in the near term and potentially trigger a global “nuclear winter,” endangering the survival of humanity with a death toll of 5-6 billion.
Even a so-called “limited” nuclear war, involving a fraction of the world’s 13,000 nuclear weapons, could cause immediate casualties of 120 million people and lead to global climate disruptions, ultimately risking the lives of 2 billion people due to nuclear famine.
“A large-scale nuclear war between the US and Russia could kill 200 million people or more in the near term and potentially cause a global ‘nuclear winter’ that could kill 5–6 billion people, threatening the survival of humanity,” they wrote in unison.
“Any use of nuclear weapons would be catastrophic for humanity. Even a ‘limited’ nuclear war involving only 250 of the 13,000 nuclear weapons in the world could kill 120 million people outright and cause global climate disruption leading to a nuclear famine, putting 2 billion people at risk.”
This red alert follows January’s alarming advancement of the Doomsday Clock, which now stands at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to global catastrophe according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres had previously warned that the world is experiencing a level of nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War.
The medical journals have decided to intervene in the geopolitical crisis, considering the threat an urgent public health priority. They are urging for fundamental actions to be taken to address the root cause of the problem, which they believe lies in the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The medical community played a crucial role during the 1980s in educating policymakers and the public about the medical consequences of nuclear war, which contributed to ending the arms race during the Cold War.
The current crisis has been exacerbated by Russia’s ongoing invasion and conflict with Ukraine. The threats of using nuclear weapons by Russia have escalated tensions and raised serious concerns about the potential for unintended escalation or miscalculation.
Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian President and current deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, has even suggested that the apocalypse is a likely scenario, adding to the sense of urgency.
Amidst these alarming developments, the medical journals are calling for urgent action to reduce the risks of nuclear war and work towards the elimination of nuclear weapons, particularly in the context of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and Russia’s aggressive posture.
Source: {Matzav.com}
