The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday appealed for close to US$2 million to support activities concerning the possible effects on human health of depleted uranium (DU) used in munitions in the Gulf War and Balkans conflicts.

A press release from WHO said the fund will be used over the next six months to strengthen its epidemiological expertise to develop or conduct field surveys with standard protocols, provide technical support and equipment as needed to strengthen national surveillance and registry of non-communicable diseases including cancers and deploy toxicologists, radiation and chemical experts in support of national capacities for diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases.

This initial US$2 million appeal will eventually form part of an estimated US$20 million appeal which would cover WHO's work in this area for the next four years, the agency said.

According to WHO, that money would allow it to undertake in- depth epidemiological and toxicological studies into the possible health effects of depleted uranium and other possible environmental effects on human beings in the Balkans and the Gulf.