The number of babies born with severe deformities and children developing leukaemia is rising dramatically in parts of Iraq.

US forces used depleted uranium weapons to attack the city in the war, which locals say has left them with this devastating legacy.

One report even says the number of such illnesses in Falluja is higher than that recorded after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Walkley Award winning video journalist Fouad Hady returns to his home country to see some of the deformed and desperately ill children, and meets some of the people battling against the odds to rebuild their lives, and their city.

WATCH - See Fouad's report from Falluja and Baghdad.

BLOG - Read Executive Producer Peter Charley’s blog about the dilemma over showing images of deformed children that could upset some viewers.

EXTRA - Read some of the reports which examine the health situation in Iraq and the serious health complications being associated with depleted uranium exposure.

HOW TO HELP - Find out how to help and more about campaign groups working to tackle the problems in Iraq. 

UN AWARD - Fouad's report won a UN Australia Media Peace Award for him and producer Ashley Smith in October 2010. Click here to find out more.

WALKLEY AWARD - Fouad's report also won a Walkley Award for Excellence in Journalism in December 2010, in the Television Current Affairs (less than 20 minutes) category. Click to find out more.

WALKLEY MAGAZINE - Dateline's Executive Producer Peter Charley has written an article for October 2010's Walkley Magazine, explaining the dilemma over showing these graphic images of deformed children.

LOGIE NOMINATION - Iraq's Deadly Legacy was one of the finalists in the 2011 Logie Awards, in the category of Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report. Click to read more.

COMMENDATION - Fouad's report also received a commendation in the TAC Yooralla Media Awards in Melbourne in November 2010. Yooralla, which supports disabled people in Victoria, organises the awards to recognise media coverage of disabilities.

Photo (tank): Getty Images

On air: 15th August 2010