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On April 16, 1987, the regime of Saddam Hussein dropped chemical weapons on villagers in the Balisan area, about 30 kilometres northeast of Erbil, close to Shaqlawa.
In Sheikh Wassan village, 198 people were killed and 65 were killed in the town of Balisan and its surrounding villages.
Today, more than 350 people affected by the attack still have traces of chemicals in their bodies.
Residents of the area and survivors commemorated the 31st anniversary this week.
Some think that the attack on Balisan was a testing ground for new chemical weapons. Less than a year later, the regime of Saddam Hussein killed 5,000 Kurds in a chemical attack on Halabja.
In Sheikh Wassan village, 198 people were killed and 65 were killed in the town of Balisan and its surrounding villages.
Today, more than 350 people affected by the attack still have traces of chemicals in their bodies.
The wounds from the attack “remain in your body until the day you wither away,” said survivor Ali Sheikha. His uncle died in the Anfal genocide and two of his children have died because of the effects of the chemical attack.
Residents of the area and survivors commemorated the 31st anniversary this week.
Some think that the attack on Balisan was a testing ground for new chemical weapons. Less than a year later, the regime of Saddam Hussein killed 5,000 Kurds in a chemical attack on Halabja.
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