KRG Delegation to Visit Tehran in Search of Halabja’s Missing Children

These cases are relevant to 211 missing children, whose fates have remained unknown for over three decades.

Abdullah Haji Mahmoud, KRG Minister of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs. (Photo: Kurdistan24)
Abdullah Haji Mahmoud, KRG Minister of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs. (Photo: Kurdistan24)

Jan. 22, 2025

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is scheduled to visit Tehran to investigate the fate of 211 children who went missing after the 1988 chemical attack on Halabja. 

This effort, led by Abdullah Haji Mahmoud, Minister of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs, shows KRG’s renewed commitment to revealing the truth about one of the darkest chapters in Kurdish history.

Ongoing Investigation into Halabja’s Missing Children

The "Missing Children of Halabja Board" delegation, headed by Minister Abdullah Haji Mahmoud, arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday to advance their investigation into the fate of Halabja’s missing children. 

The delegation met with officials from the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Iranian Embassy, and additional meetings are planned for Thursday.

Minister Mahmoud told Kurdistan24 that their mission is to coordinate with Iraqi and Iranian officials to locate the missing children. 

Plans are in motion for a visit to Tehran, where records maintained by Iran’s Ministries of Health and Interior are believed to hold crucial information about the missing children.

Iran’s Role in the Investigation

As Halabja’s border neighbor, Iran played a notable role in assisting survivors of the chemical attack, opening its doors to escaping residents in 1988. 

According to Mahmoud, Iranian authorities have expressed full cooperation in the search for the missing children, many of whom were reportedly taken into custody or received medical care in Iran during the aftermath of the attack.

Families Seeking Answers

The Minister revealed that 74 families have formally submitted requests to locate their children. These cases are relevant to 211 missing children, whose fates have remained unknown for over three decades.

“This effort represents the culmination of years of appeals by families who deserve closure,” Mahmoud stated.

Creation of the "Missing Children of Halabja Board"

Acknowledging the urgency of resolving this issue, the KRG established the "Missing Children of Halabja Board" at the beginning of its ninth cabinet term. 

This board, which includes representatives from all KRG ministries, is tasked with investigating the missing children’s cases and ensuring intergovernmental collaboration.

The Tragedy of Halabja

The Halabja chemical attack on March 16, 1988, carried out by Saddam Hussein’s regime, claimed thousands of lives and left a deep scar on the Kurdish community. 

Many families escaped to neighboring Iran, and in the chaos that followed, hundreds of children were separated from their families or disappeared.

A Step Toward Justice and Healing

This delegation’s efforts mark an important step in tackling one of the unsolved tragedies of the Anfal campaign. 

By working with Iranian and Iraqi authorities, the KRG intends to provide closure to affected families and preserve the memory of Halabja’s victims.

The planned Tehran visit underlines the KRG’s commitment to ensuring that the stories of Halabja’s missing children are not forgotten and that justice, even decades later, remains a priority.