Israelkurdistan friendship association memorializes 1988 halabja massacre that killed 5,000. The halabja chemical attack also known as the halabja massacre or bloody friday, was a. The city of halabja was destroyed and its inhabitants and those of nearby. Dec 03, 2012 nearly 25 years on from the chemical weapons attack on halabja, steps are about to be taken to discover which country and possibly which factory supplied the chemical weapons. Nearly 25 years on from the chemical weapons attack on halabja, steps are about to be taken to discover which country and possibly which factory supplied the chemical weapons. Eyewitness in halabja on march, 1988, the city of halabja in iraqi kurdistan was almost completely destroyed by the iraqi armed forces using chemical weapons, supplied by the west. In the most brutal chemical attack against civilians in the history of mankind, 5,000 innocent.
For incidentspecific studies, the iranianiraqi war 19801988 was on the top of list see fig. Most of the victims of the attack on the town of halabja were kurdish civilians. That the crimes committed against iraqi kurds constitute. Apr 09, 2017 the mass graves of the victims of the 1988 chemical attacks on halabja, where about 5,000 people were killed with gases, including sarin, under saddam husseins regime. This multireligious city, which included muslims, kakais, jews or descendants of jews, was bombarded on friday. Although there is some evidence that saddam husseins forces had used chemical agents before march 16, 1988, the attack on halabja is thought to be the first documented assault by saddam husseins forces using chemical weapons. The gassing of khurds halabja chemical attack world history free pdf download background northern iraq was an area of general unrest during the early stage of the iraniraq war, with the kurdistan democratic party kdp and patriotic union of kurdistan puk militias joining forces, with iranian support, in 1982 and 1983, respectively.
However, it did not result in international pressure on iraq. Human rights watch recorded more than 3,200 immediate fatalities, with many more kurdish citizens exposed to clouds of. Halabja witness tells about saddams poison gas attack. Saddam husseins use of nerve gas on civilians at halabja. The halabja chemical attack, also known as the halabja massacre or bloody friday, was a genocidal massacre against the kurdish people that took. Halabja massacre and the role of the kurds in the war are largely discussed in. Bureau of public affairs washington, dc march 14, 2003 pdf. There are no official statistics on the number of casualties from the 1988 chemical attack against halabja.
We stand in solidarity with victims of chemical war and terror, wherever they may be in the world. Halabja, a city near the border with iran, lies about 241 km. During each of the eight phases of the military campaign, these forbidden weapons would be used against kurdish villages. The halabja event was also part of iraqi efforts to counterattack kurdish and. Iraqs halabja chemical attack haunts survivors 30 years. Pdf health perspectives among halabjas civilian survivors. The chemical weapons attack on the kurds of halabja, iraq. Halabja is a name etched in the history of chemical warfare.
The poison gas attack on the iraqi town of halabja was the largestscale chemical weapons cw attack against a civilian population in modern times if we do not include the americans using chemical weapons agent orange the effects of which are still being felt on the civilian population in vietnam or the more recent use by america of. Around 5,000 people were killed at the time and many more more died. Iraqi soldiers in protective gear returned to halabja to study the effectiveness of their weapons and attacks. Husseins chemical attack in 1988 on the iraqi kurdish city of halabja. A comprehensive documentation and analysis of the chemical attack against halabja has been provided by hiltermann 2007. There are few documented instances of deliberate chemical weapons attacks against civilian communities. The next day, he reported the deaths of approximately 4,000residents of halabja.
Halabja victims society is a grassroots organization whose mission is to mobilize the families of the victims and the survivors of the massacre to achieve justice and hold the perpetrators of the largest chemical weapons attack since world war ii accountable. L ate in the morning of march 16, 1988, the iraqi army began bombing the kurdish town of halabja, some 15 miles from the iranian border. They were buried alive in the deserts of iraq only to be found when mass graves were. Chemical weapons attack on halabja jump to media player john simpsons original 1988 report from halabja in the aftermath of the gas attack on the town. Director general, distinguished guests and delegates, it is a great honor for me to represent the halabja chemical victims society and deliver their message on their behalf. The gassing of khurds halabja chemical attack world. Mar 25, 20 halabja is a name etched in the history of chemical warfare. The town and surrounding district were attacked with bombs, artillery fire and chemical weapons, the last of which proved most devastating. The chemical weapons attack on the iraqi kurdistan town of halabja on march 16, 1988 killed thousands of people and was the worst single chemical attack undertaken by the saddam regime, not to mention by far the largest use of chemical weapons in an otherwise mostly short list since the end of wwii. Human rights watch recorded more than 3,200 immediate fatalities, with many more kurdish citizens. The chemical weapons attack on the kurds of halabja, iraq kindle edition by susan schuurman. Health perspectives among halabjas civilian survivors of.
Reports from the city suggested that iraqi leader saddam husseins forces had launched the chemical gas attack. Original door where omer khawars and childs bodies were found after 1988 chemical attack with truck used by bakhtiar awmar to collect bodies halabja kurdistan iraq. The meaning of halabja bulletin of the atomic scientists. Jan 24, 2006 l ate in the morning of march 16, 1988, the iraqi army began bombing the kurdish town of halabja, some 15 miles from the iranian border. Both were killed by an iraqi chemical attack on the city of halabja, march 20, 1988 irnaafpgetty left. The fivehour attack began early in the evening of 16 march 1988, following a series of random attacks using rocket and napalm, when iraqi mirage aircraft began dropping chemical bombs on halabjas residential areas, far from the besieged iraqi army base on the outskirts of the town. Saddam husseins notorious cousin chemical ali was convicted today of crimes against humanity, receiving a death sentence for his involvement in. They divided the city into grids, determining the number and location of the dead and extent of injury. Halabja s residents were more or less expecting the attack. Kurdish schoolgirls walk past a memorial monument of the man and child, march 16, 2003. Hoshmand morad halabja chemical victims society, iraq. Mar 15, 2018 although there is some evidence that saddam husseins forces had used chemical agents before march 16, 1988, the attack on halabja is thought to be the first documented assault by saddam husseins forces using chemical weapons.
The most prominent of these purported attacks was the march 1988 chemical assault on the town of halabja, in which the number of dead, according to human rights watch exceeds 5000. The kurdish peshmerga guerrillas, supported by iran, captured halabja in the final phase of the iraniraq war. Some studies include the attack in halabja in the iraqiran war while other studies explicitly talked about halabja as a standalone incident. Oct 23, 2015 the halabja chemical attack, also known as the halabja massacre or bloody friday, was a genocidal massacre against the kurdish people that took place on march 16, 1988, during the closing days of. The gassing of khurds halabja chemical attack world history. The city of halabja was destroyed and its inhabitants and those of nearby villages were displaced, leaving nearly 70,000 homeless. Jun 21, 2019 the largest chemical attack was carried out on the city of halabja in 1988, in which approxi mately 5,000 persons died immediately and thousands of survivors today are still suffering. The largest chemical attack was carried out on the city of halabja in 1988, in which approximately 5,000 persons died immediately and thousands of survivors today are still suffering from longlasting injuries. Ahmed zimnako halabja chemical victims society presentation. The ensembles musical collaboration memorializes the victims of halabja in a.
Clinical cases from mofid medical center mustard exposure following the halabja attack on march 17, 1988 a 3yearold male presented to mofid medical center 8 days after the halabja chemical attack with fever 39. Mar 16, 20 a chemical gas attack as part of saddams alanfal campaign, on the city of halabja instantly killed an estimated 5000 innocent civilians and wounded thousands more. The next day, he reported the deaths of approximately 4,000residents of halabja, khurmal, dojeileh, and nearby villages. On behalf of the organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons, i convey our deepest condolences and assurances of support to the authorities and people of halabja. Today, many of the living kurdish civilians affected by the. Guide bakhtiar awmar shows contemporary photo of victims of 1988 chemical attack outside doorway where their bodies were found halabja kurdistan iraq. Mar 19, 2018 halabja, a city near the border with iran, lies about 241 km. At least 5,000 people died as an immediate result of the chemical attack and it is estimated that a further 7,000 people were injured or suffered longterm illness. Iraqs halabja chemical attack haunts survivors 30 years on. Chemical weapons are the ultimate psychological weapon for those who are willing to use them.
Victims of the long term effects of chemical weapons. The kurdish peshmerga guerrillas, supported by iran, took control of the city. When saddam hussein gassed 5,000 kurds at halabja daily. Did you know more then 5000 civilians died in a chemical attack in halabja in1988. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Kimyabarana helebce, also known as halabja massacre or bloody friday,1 was a genocidal massacre against the kurdish people that took place on march 16, 1988, during the closing days of the iraniraq war, when chemical weapons were used by the iraqi government forces in the kurdish town. The halabja chemical attack was a harbinger of later anfal policies. The mass graves of the victims of the 1988 chemical attacks on halabja, where about 5,000 people were killed with gases, including sarin, under saddam husseins regime. Around 5,000 people were killed at the time and many more more died from their injuries over the next few weeks. Halabja helped saddam hussein gauge the ability of his chemical agents to kill, maim, and terrorize population centers. Horrors of chemical attack by saddam husseins government on kurdish city of halabja still haunt survivors. Chemical ali sentenced to death over halabja poison gas. There are also some studies that addressed the effect of cws on veterans of the gulf war after the iraqi invasion of kuwait 1991 relating to their exposure to remnants of cws use during the. The largest chemical attack was carried out on the city of halabja in 1988, in which approxi mately 5,000 persons died immediately and thousands of survivors today are still suffering.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading an inconvenient atrocity. Halabja simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The halabja chemical attacks drew worldwide attention, because of the presence of foreign journalists. The city is known for an incident in the final phase of the iraniraq war.
It is 240 kilometres 150 mi northeast of baghdad poison gas attack. Silent city was composed by the prominent iranian kamancheh virtuoso, kayhan kalhor for the silk road ensemble in 2005. The ensembles musical collaboration memorializes the victims of halabja in a performance that promotes the. The health effects of the halabja genocide, 25 years on. Halabja was five days away from newroz, the kurdish new year. Most of the details about the halabja killings only emerged a few days later. Chemical weapons history american chemical society. In addition, the hussein regime conducted the anfal campaigns extended military attack where 182,000 civilian kurds were killed. Syria gas attack evokes flashbacks of death for survivors. But estimates by the media and nongovernmental organizations, such as the halabja martyrs organization, suggest that about 5,000 civilians were killed mostly women, children, and elderly who were unable to flee the town quickly. This multireligious city, which included muslims, kakais, jews or descendants of. The iraqi army allegedly used chemical weapons in 40 separate attacks on kurdish targets during a campaign that hrw labels as genocide. The town is the victim of a chemical weapon attack, say the commentaries, using official iranian explanations that accuse iraq of. A chemical gas attack as part of saddams alanfal campaign, on the city of halabja instantly killed an estimated 5000 innocent civilians and wounded thousands more.