The Aral Sea was once the fourth largest inland body of water on earth with a surface area of 66,000
km2
. In 1960, the mean water level was 53.4 m and it contained 1090 km3 of water (Glantz 1999). The
destruction of the sea and its ecosystems constitutes one of the greatest man-made environmental
disasters in history. The ecological catastrophe has been associated with a sharp decline in the health
status of the human population in the region. The environmental deterioration is expected to continue
and the health outlook is similarly grim. There is a requirement for immediate health related assistance
from the international community.