ANTONIO ZAMBARDINO

HALABJA 1988-2013

IRAQ 2013

Text By Gabriele Barbati

25 Years After Worst Chemical-Weapon Massacre In History, Saddam Hussein's Attack On Halabja in Iraq, The City Is Reborn

Read the full article on ITB

HALABJA, Iraq -- First came the blast of the bombs dropped from the jets, followed by a smell of apples. Then the birds the family kept caged in the yard dropped dead. Minutes later, human beings began to die, too.
This is how Minira Abdul Qader remembers the events of March 16, 1988, in Halabja, a small town on Iraq's northeastern border with Iran. She was 10, and a witness to the largest chemical-weapons attack on civilians in history.
The civilians happened to be Kurds, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s enemies. He had ordered his forces to drop gas on the city, then inhabited by 45,000 Kurds.
“We took refuge in the basement,” Qader recalled from her house in Halabja, “but when jets came again at night we decided to flee the city, like everybody else. I remember people lying still on the fields, and me asking my brother why they were sleeping there.”
But they weren’t sleeping. They were the bodies of some of the 5,000 people killed by mustard gas and the nerve agents sarin, tabun and Vx. Continue                                                                                                                                                

Neighborhoods around the memorial of the attack on the city                        

Aram Karim Hama Hussein (boy) and Ana Karim Hama Hussein (girl) age 4. Born Microcephalus are unable to walk and to develop their speaking. The siblings are in their parents harms. The father Amat Hama Hussein and his wife Jino.                                                         

Mr. Sarxel. President of The Memorial of the Halabja Gas attack that occured on 16/3/1988                                     

Mr. Baker's back. He was in Halabja the day of the attack, when the gas cleared out he helped around the city. Most of his body is affected by a skin condition. This is very common among the survivors.                          

The wife of Mr Ali Mahmoud Muhammad Empties their collection fo empty med-boxes on a carpet                              

Arish Aziz Ali (boy) was born with a congenital malformation of the right foot. He can walk, however the right leg is shorter than the other.
Jian Aziz Ali, 25. She was born the day of the attack. 16 March 1988. She studies Sport Education at the Halabja University and plays volleyball in the Halabja city team.                                        

Aram  Karim Hama Hussein (boy) and Ana Karim Hama Hussein (girl) age 4. Born Microcephalus are unable to walk and to develop speaking abilities.                                   

The feet of Hanar Baker, 9. Born on Feb 2 2004. She has a congenital malformations of the feet.                                           

The medication boxes of Ali Mahmoud Muhammad                  

Alande Hameed Hama Ali, 11. Is affected by Leukemia, was diagnosed at the age of 6. His was in the center of Halabja in her house when the attck on the city occured, she then fled to Iran seeking refuge, like many others. She had 7 miscarriges                                                   

Aunt of Aram Karim Hama Hussein and Ana Karim Hama Hussein.                                        

Sheena Fathalla with hel in her mother's harms. She was born blind (24 Feb 2010) She was immediatly diagnosed Hydrocephalus. She's unable to walk, but she might be able to have surgery at the age of 14.                                                      

On Saturday men are walking in the city center of Halabja. Passerby at dusk.                                     

Sunrise in Halabja, Empty street                                   

Dawn in Halabja, A man pushes his cart shouting to sell kitchen knives                           

Five Peshmerga pose for a group portrait in the military Headquarter of Halabja.