March 16th marks 17 years since Saddam Hussein unleashed a poison gas attack against Kurdish villages in Halabja.
Populations of towns in northern Iraq, especially the town of Halabja, represent the largest civilian populations ever exposed to chemical and biological weapons. 250 population centers and 31 uninhabited strategic areas are known to have been attacked by Iraqi forces from April 1987 to August 1988.
In addition to chemical weapons use, for which there is forensic evidence, the Iraqi regime may also have used weaponized biological and radiological agents during the attacks. The population of northern Iraq is 4 million, and initial estimates suggest that as many as 250,000 people may have been exposed at some level. (Saddam's regime also used chemical weapons against Shi'ites and marsh Arabs in southern Iraq following the Gulf War. Additionally, an estimated 100,000 Iranian soldiers also survived Iraqi chemical attacks during the Iran-Iraq War.)
Of all the atrocities committed with weapons of mass destruction, none proved more horrific than the attack on Halabja, which took place over three days in March 1988. Halabja was bombarded with a concoction of chemical weapons which included mustard gas, and the nerve gases sarin, tabun and VX.
Five to seven thousand people of 80,000 inhabitants died immediately and a further 20,000 to 30,000 were injured, many severely. Initial studies indicate approximately 52% of current inhabitants were exposed at the time of the attack.
Since then, the HALABJA POST-GRADUATE MEDICAL INSTITUTE (HMI) was established to study and treat long term effects of these weapons.
Since being established, HMI centers have undertaken the following activities:Get that? 281. That means at least 281.
1. Medical Survey to identify all major medical problems and disability in 40,000 adults and children in order to provide prioritized care to those with greatest needs as a result of chem/bio exposure: HMI personnel are implementing survey using an innovative pictograph form.
2. Systematic study to determine frequency and types of cancers, congenital malformations, stillbirths and patients with serious or lethal medical conditions in order to effectively develop palliative care, prevention and treatment programs.
3. Mapping 281 known WMD attacks in Iraqi Kurdistan
Tell me again what a waste of time it was getting rid of his sorry ass.
Update: I forgot - Silly me. It's about "The Oiiiiiiiiillllll".
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