Answering the questions of the unanswered

THE dull throbs of heavy artillery sounded first. The wailing sirens came next, as the deadly shells dropped from the skies.

The people fled, escaping into tunnels, cellars and basements.

There, they waited.

The chemical bombs landed second. Heavier than air, the gasses sunk in thick clouds of smoke.

Underground, they had nowhere left to go. Trapped, they died.

Above ground, they had nowhere else to run. Suffocated, they died.

The choking sobs of childless fathers followed after. The wailing of grieving mothers echoed, as lifeless bodies littered the ground.

The aftermath defies description. The city of Halabja was destroyed.

Effect of chemical attack

Hydrology Professor at the University of Zululand, Jean Simonis, and Global Relief CEO, Loffie Schoeman, travelled to Halabja, Kurdistan, last week upon request of the Halabja Governor to investigate the environmental consequences of the bombing on soil and water in the area.

‘We were concerned that in the decades since the chemical attack, no one had monitored the effects of these weapons on the water and soils,’ said Prof Simonis.

‘International teams have taken samples before, but the results have never been given to the population. We’re doing our study to help the people overcome their fears and perceptions of the pollution.’

The chemical bombs used in Halabja were found to contain mustard gas and nerve agents like Sarin gas.

These on their own can cause severe physiological damage and death within minutes of exposure.

Surveys conducted by the Halabja centre showed that the rate of miscarriages and Colon cancer are 14 and 10 times higher in Halabja compared to a neighbouring region, Chamchamal.

The director of the Halabja Centre, Dr Fouad Baban, stated that such defects may occur in any society, however, the incidence in places affected by chemical attacks is abnormally high.

Having visited the area and met with survivors every year since 2014, both Simonis and Schoeman are no strangers to the town of Halabja, which lies on the southern fringe of Iraqi Kurdistan.

‘The after-effects of the attack were still painfully evident for us during our first sampling expedition yesterday (last Friday),’ said Simonis.

‘We were amazed at how quickly the local people approached us, willing to tell their stories. At every stop someone would give us the number of people that died in that area.

‘Exact numbers were provided; a hundred here, 74 there, 15 at that spot. Few families were spared.’

The duo’s work in Kurdistan will soon be completed and thereafter the soil and water samples will be returned to South Africa for analysis.

They hope the results will provide some measure of finality, closure and reassurance that the water and soils are safe and fit for use.

‘People ask us why on earth we consider going to one of the most dangerous countries in the world at a time when it is racked by internal conflict,’ said Simonis.

‘The reason is clear to us, and would be to them too if every time they drove away from these survivors, the words ‘please send us the results this time’ rang in their ears like they do in ours.’