International Day for Victims of Chemical Weapons: Honoring Halabja and Other Tragedies
Chemical weapons are widely condemned as one of the most inhumane tools of war. The International Day of Remembrance serves as a reminder of their devastating consequences and reinforces the urgency of global efforts to prevent their use.
Nov. 30, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Today, the world observes the International Day of Remembrance of all Victims of Chemical Warfare, a solemn reminder of the horrific impact of chemical weapons, including the infamous attack on Halabja and other Kurdish areas under Iraq’s former regime.
Chemical weapons were first used during World War I, where they caused approximately 1.1 million casualties, including deaths and injuries. Since then, they have left a devastating legacy across the globe.
In 1997, the Chemical Weapons Convention was signed by 193 countries, marking a global commitment to eliminating these brutal weapons. However, three nations—Egypt, North Korea, and South Sudan—have not signed the treaty, and Israel has signed but not ratified it.
The United Nations established Nov. 30 as the International Day of Remembrance of all Victims of Chemical Warfare in 2005. On this day, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) renews its pledge to eradicate chemical weapons worldwide.
A Timeline of Chemical Weapons Tragedies
1915 (World War I): The first modern use of chemical weapons during the Second Battle of Ypres, Belgium, on April 22, 1915. The German army released 188 tons of chlorine gas, resulting in 6,000–7,000 casualties, with a total of 91,000 deaths and one million injuries during the war.
1935–1936 (Second Italo-Ethiopian War): Italy used poison gas extensively against Ethiopia, dropping 330 tons of chemical agents and causing an estimated 50,000 civilian casualties.
1961–1971 (Vietnam War): The U.S. military sprayed nearly 80 million liters of chemicals, including Agent Orange, over Vietnam, devastating 2.9 million hectares of farmland and forests and affecting up to 4 million people. Vietnam’s Defense Ministry reports over 3 million casualties during this period.
1980–1988 (Iran-Iraq War): Iraq deployed chemical weapons against Iran, causing over 100,000 casualties.
March 16, 1988 (Halabja Massacre): During the Anfal campaign, Iraq’s Ba’athist regime used chemical weapons to kill over 5,000 Kurdish civilians in Halabja. This attack, led by Ali Hassan al-Majid, remains a symbol of the Kurdish people’s suffering.
August 21, 2013 (Syrian Civil War): The Assad regime launched sarin-filled rockets into the Ghouta district near Damascus, killing more than 1,400 people.
A Global Commitment to Prohibition
Since the Chemical Weapons Convention took effect on April 29, 1997, 193 countries have pledged to eliminate chemical weapons. However, Egypt, North Korea, and South Sudan have refused to join, and Israel has not allowed international inspections of its military facilities.
Chemical weapons are widely condemned as one of the most inhumane tools of war. The International Day of Remembrance serves as a reminder of their devastating consequences and reinforces the urgency of global efforts to prevent their use.
The Halabja massacre stands as a powerful symbol of the Kurdish people’s suffering and resilience. Its memory fuels the ongoing fight to ensure that such tragedies never happen again.