KRG Pledges Full Support for Halabja in Wake of Deadly Wildfire

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a demonstration of solidarity and commitment following a devastating fire in Halabja province that claimed two lives, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani visited the area as a representative of the Prime Minister, conveying a message of profound sympathy and pledging the government's unwavering support for the community, its officials, and all those affected by the tragedy.

Acting on behalf of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, Hawramani traveled to Halabja to meet with local officials and the families of the victims. In a subsequent press conference, he detailed the purpose of his visit, stating, "Today we have come to Halabja province to convey the message of sympathy and condolences from Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to the families of the two martyrs of the Halabja fire incident."

Hawramani emphasized that the KRG leadership was deeply engaged from the moment the incident began.

He noted that both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior were in constant contact with the Governor of Halabja, closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that all necessary supplies were dispatched to help control the blaze. The government’s concern, he said, was immediate and sustained throughout the crisis.

In a specific address concerning the volunteer who tragically lost his life while battling the flames, Hawramani confirmed that the Minister of Interior had personally communicated with the hospital to ensure the victim's rights are secured. He affirmed that the KRG would fully implement the necessary measures to honor his sacrifice.

The government spokesperson also took a moment to commend the remarkable unity and resilience displayed by the local community. He praised the collective spirit of the people of Halabja, observing how residents from all walks of life—men, women, children, and the elderly—came together alongside official KRG institutions.

"All were united with one voice and one hand to cooperate," Hawramani said, "whether it was providing a bottle of water for the teams, or those who went into the fire and tried to prevent it from spreading further."

Reiterating the government's commitment, Hawramani declared, "The Kurdistan Regional Government supports Halabja in every way." He extended this pledge of support to the governor, the valiant volunteers, and the official teams from civil defense and emergency services who "put themselves in hardship and difficulty so that this fire would not spread further and could be controlled."

The fire, which broke out on the night of August 17-18 in the villages of Chnar and Mordin, resulted in the deaths of a 28-year-old civilian named Ari Mukhtar and a police officer, while injuring two others.

During the press conference, Halabja Governor Nuxsha Nasih provided a stark assessment of the damage, announcing that after a three-day effort involving firefighting teams, civil defense, and local volunteers, the fire was finally brought under control. However, the environmental cost was immense.

"According to initial estimates, more than five thousand donums of land were burned," she stated.

The governor also highlighted a critical challenge facing the province: a lack of adequate equipment to handle such large-scale emergencies. "We do not have the necessary equipment in our area for any unforeseen incident," she explained.

In response, a formal request for 49 different types of essential equipment has been submitted to the Council of Ministers, which has approved the request. Governor Nasih urged the Ministry of Finance to implement the decision as quickly as possible to bolster the province's emergency response capabilities.

An official investigation into the cause of the fire has been launched by the Halabja police and civil defense. The governor made it clear that if the fire is found to have been started intentionally, "we will take legal action."

To address the significant losses suffered by residents, she announced that a committee will be formed to assess the damages and will submit a formal request to the Council of Ministers for the compensation of all affected individuals.

Leveraging the high-level visit, Governor Nasih also presented a specific request to the Prime Minister on behalf of the residents of Halabja. Citing the difficult financial situation of many in the area, she has formally prepared and submitted a request for the provision of 24-hour electricity.

"We hope that the financial and natural conditions of the area and the population of Halabja province will be taken into consideration for this issue," she said, expressing hope that "the residents of Halabja province will receive a positive response."

In a separate update during the press conference, Hawramani touched upon ongoing negotiations between the KRG and Baghdad. He announced that a delegation from the Region was holding a "serious discussion and a decisive meeting" in Baghdad on Wednesday.

He also confirmed the Region's financial readiness, stating, "Our 120 billion dinars of non-oil revenue is also ready; whenever it is needed and requested, it will be sent in due time."