PRESS RELEASE
March 16, 2000
WKI Remembers 12th Anniversary of Attack on Halabja
Calls for Expanded Efforts to Assist Survivors of Iraqi WMD Use
On March 16, 1988, the town of Halabja was attacked with chemical and possibly biological weapons.
Today, twelve years later, the town’s people continue to suffer from serious medical disorders and long-term genocidal effects with little or no effective treatment. Twelve years later, much of Halabja still remains ruined. Twelve years later, noone knows exactly which weapons Saddam used in the deadly cocktails that soaked Halabja over three days. Twelve years later, noone knows whether toxic agents persist in the environment. Twelve years later, Saddam Hussein and his henchmen continue to evade justice for genocidal crimes against humanity. And, twelve years later, the international community’s inaction is almost as horrifying as memories of the attack and its legacy of suffering.
Saddam Hussein and his evil regime are directly responsible for the horrors of Halabja. Yet there are also other governments and companies responsible for arming Saddam and helping develop Iraq’s chemical, biological and nuclear weapons industry. Recently, German officials declined to consider compensation claims by victims of Halabja, despite significant and documented roles of German companies in developing Saddam’s chemical weapons program. German companies and officials are not the only ones who helped Saddam acquire weapons used to kill, maim and terrorize the men, women and children of Iraqi Kurdistan. Scores of companies from many Western and other countries, including the United States, France, Great Britain, Russia, also readily sold Saddam the ability to manufacture and deliver the weapons of mass destruction, which still threaten us today.
After twelve years, it is possible to assess blame. Yet, the most important thing that remains is to help the people still suffering long-term effects of these weapons. In this regard it is vital to learn what agents were used and whether they still pose a threat in the environment, because there is little or no existing knowledge about how to effectively treat men, women and children exposed to large quantities of combinations of agents. Learning such information will require a coordinated and sustained international effort that is critical for developing effective treatment and prevention programs.
While support for such an international effort remains slow to develop, some significant progress has been made, including establishment of the Halabja Post-Graduate Medical Institute in August 1999 at four centers throughout Iraqi Kurdistan. Furthermore, there are immediate ways to provide medical and other assistance to tens of thousands of people throughout the region who still suffer from long-term effects of the attacks.
People and governments everywhere must continue to support efforts to bring Saddam Hussein and his criminal regime to justice. As long as Saddam Hussein remains in power, the Kurds and all the peoples and in Iraq and neighboring countries will renaub threatened by the regmies weapons of mass destruction.
People and governments can also now support efforts of the Halabja Post Graduate Medical Institute. This academic medical structure provides an operational framework through which integrated treatment and research programs can be developed by local doctors working with international experts. In addition to the support of governments, international agencies, non-governmental organizations and individuals throughout the world, it also is critical for Kurdish authorities to increase their efforts to meet the special medical needs of survivors.
We hope that the Halabja Medical Institute will be a seed planted in fertile ground. Despite difficulties and seeming indifference of an international community often quick to respond to other calamities, hope has not died in Halabja or other ruined villages of Iraqi Kurdistan. Yet that same hope also poses a great challenge. It would be tragic to rekindle the hope of long-suffering people on plans easily undone by poor planning, half-hearted effort or shaky political will. Yet while the obstacles are considerable, we believe in this effort because so many people, institutions, officials and NGOs around the world have committed themselves to helping. Working together, we believe it is possible to turn the tragedy of Halabja into a valuable lesson that can benefit all humanity.
We must never forget what happened in Halabja twelve years ago. We must also remember that the attack is still killing people and therefore it is still imperative to act now to stop the suffering.