As another anniversary passes, Halabja’s survivors and families of victims remain caught between historical trauma and political inertia. [Dana Taib Menmy/TNA]
Iraq and the Kurdistan Region on Sunday commemorated the 37th anniversary of the 1988 Halabja chemical attack, a massacre that claimed thousands of lives in one of Saddam Hussein’s worst atrocities. But beyond the solemn ceremonies, frustration is mounting among survivors and residents.
During the Iran-Iraq war (1980–1988), Hussein’s regime attacked Halabja with chemical weapons on 16 March 1988, killing over 5,000 people and wounding tens of thousands. The attack remains one of the most horrific instances of chemical warfare targeting civilians.
Decades later, Halabja’s residents continue to suffer from poor public services under Kurdish authorities, high unemployment, and unfulfilled political promises. Despite repeated pledges, Iraq’s parliament has yet to officially recognise the Halabja gas attack as genocide or declare Halabja as Iraq’s 19th province. The Iraqi government has also failed to apologise or compensate the families of victims.
Early on Sunday, the people of Halabja held a parade from the city centre to the Halabja Martyrs’ Graveyard to honour the victims. However, attendance was notably lower than in previous years, partly due to fasting during Ramadan and partly as a silent expression of frustration—many believe these annual ceremonies, often attended by senior political officials, have brought no real change to their lives.
Survivors still suffer
Even after 37 years, the pain and suffering persist for Halabja’s chemical attack survivors. Many of those affected require ongoing medical treatment, but the specialised hospital designated for them in Halabja lacks both essential equipment and qualified medical staff. As a result, survivors must travel to Erbil or Sulaimaniyah for care.
A hospital dedicated to treating chemical attack survivors was completed 11 years ago but has never been officially opened. Parts of the facility have deteriorated, and the company responsible for completing the project abandoned it unfinished.
Currently, 250 chemical attack survivors in Halabja require regular medical consultations, with 25 at risk of losing their eyesight and in urgent need of continuous medical monitoring.
“Unfortunately, what has been done is not at our expectations. Survivors with one to three martyrs in their family receive a monthly salary of 450,000 Iraqi dinars (nearly $402), while those with three to fourteen martyrs receive 900,000 dinars,” Luqman Abdulqadir, head of the Halabja Chemical Victims’ Society, told The New Arab.
He described the health conditions of survivors as “very bad” and criticised the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for suspending financial support for sending wounded survivors abroad for treatment due to economic constraints.
“The Iraqi federal government has also failed to fulfil its promises to treat the wounded. The excuses must stop,” he added.
National Mass Graves Day
16 March also coincides with Iraq’s National Mass Graves Day, a date dedicated to remembering the victims of Saddam Hussein’s regime.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani marked the occasion with a tribute to the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who perished under the Ba’athist dictatorship. In a statement on X, he recalled the atrocities of the regime, including the Halabja chemical attack, the Anfal campaign, and the 1991 Shaaban uprising.
“Iraqis gave their lives for the nation’s freedom and dignity,” Al-Sudani stated, adding that the country’s democratic system today is a result of those sacrifices. He called for continued efforts to safeguard Iraq’s sovereignty and ensure a dignified life for all citizens.
The Iraqi parliament has completed a second reading of a draft law to make Halabja Iraq’s 19th province, but political rivalries have stalled the final vote.
“We, as the New Generation opposition party, urged Prime Minister Al-Sudani to adopt the move to grant Halabja provincial status, and he kept his promise,” Arian Taugozi, an Iraqi MP from Halabja, told TNA.
However, parliamentary voting on the bill has been delayed, as Iraq’s parliament has not convened for over a month due to disputes between Shia blocs over the retirement law for Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).
Taugozi also noted that, upon his suggestion, 16 March has been endorsed as a national holiday. He has also submitted a new bill to the Iraqi parliament calling for official recognition of the Halabja gas attack as genocide.
He stressed that despite the 37 years that have passed, the Kurdistan Parliament has yet to pass a similar law and expressed his hope that the Iraqi Parliament would ratify the bill, emphasising that it would pave the way for state compensation for the victims and survivors of the chemical attack.
As another anniversary passes, Halabja’s survivors and families of victims remain caught between historical trauma and political inertia. The town, forever marked by one of the world’s worst chemical attacks, continues to struggle for justice, recognition, and basic services.
While officials and leaders commemorate the attack every year, many in Halabja believe that actions—not words—will define true justice for the victims of 1988.Â
