Halabja ھەڵەبجە (Kurdish) Helebce | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Halabja city | |
  Halabja Halabja inIraq | |
| Coordinates:35°11′11″N45°58′26″E / 35.18639°N 45.97389°E /35.18639; 45.97389 | |
| Country |  Iraq |
| Autonomous region |  Kurdistan Region[1] |
| Governorate | Halabja |
| Established | 1650 BC |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Nuxsha Nasih |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,600 km2 (600 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 900 m (3,000 ft) |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 145,700[2] |
| Time zone | UTC+3 |
 | |
Halabja (Kurdish:ھەڵەبجە,romanized: Helebce,Arabic:حلبجة[3]) is a city in theKurdistan Region ofIraq and the capital ofHalabja Governorate, located about 240 km (150 mi) northeast ofBaghdad and 14 km (9 mi) from theIranian border.
The city lies at the base of what is often referred to as the greaterHewraman region stretching across theIran–Iraq border. Halabja is surrounded by Hawraman and Shnrwe range in the northeast, Balambo range in the south andSirwan river in the west. TheKurds in the city of Halabja generally speak only theSorani dialect ofKurdish, but some residents of the surrounding villages speak theHewrami dialect.
The history of Halabja is believed to have started during theAkkadian Empire period (24th century BC). The ancient city-kingdom ofLullubi from that period is thought to be located in Halabja area.
The excavations at nearby archaeological sites likeBakr Awa revealed a long history. The cemetery there includes the tombs of several historical figures, such as Ahmed Mukhtar Jaff, Tayar Bag Jaff andAdila Khanim. In August 2009, three 17th century tombs were discovered in the Ababile district of the town.[4]
This suggests that the town is somewhat older than indicated by some sources, which claim that it was built by theOttoman Empire at about 1850. However, modern developments date from the early 20th century. The post office opened in 1924 and the first school opened the following year. The Qaysari Pasha and Hamid Bag bazaars were built-in 1932. Electricity did not reach the city until 1940.[5]
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were manyBritish soldiers stationed in Halabja. DuringWorld War I, Adela Khanum saved the lives of several British soldiers, resulting in the British honoring her with the title Khan Bahadur, Princess of the Brave. She was also responsible for the building of a new prison, setting up a court of justice, of which she was the first president and building a new bazaar.[6]
During theAl-Anfal campaign of the Iraqi Government, which took place between March 1987 and May 1989, the neighborhoods Kani Ashqan and Mordana were erased in May 1987 as a reprisal for the support of the Peshmerga.[7] But Halabja suffered much more during the Al-Anfal campaign, in whichSaddam Hussein violently suppressed Kurdish revolts during theIran–Iraq War.
TheKurdishPeshmerga guerrillas, supported byIran, captured Halabja in the final phase of theIran–Iraq War. At 11:00 AM, On March 16, 1988, after two days of conventional artillery attacks,Iraqi planes dropped gas canisters on the town.[8][9] The town and surrounding district were attacked with bombs, artillery fire andchemical weapons, the last of which proved most devastating. At least 5,000 people died as an immediate result of the chemical attack and it is estimated that a further 7,000 people were injured or suffered long-term illness.[10] Most of the victims of the attack on the town of Halabja were Kurdish civilians.[11]
The attack is believed to have included thenerve agentsTabun,Sarin andVX, as well asmustard gas. However, according to former seniorCIA analyst Stephen C. Pelletiere, Iraq did not have the nerve agent used in the attack but did have mustard gas which was used in the Iran–Iraq War. An interdisciplinary scientific study from 2019, after more than three decades, shows that the chemical attacks on Halabja have long-term biological, psychological and social effects on the survivors. The authors, Faraidoun Moradi, Mia Söderberg, Fazil Moradi and others conclude: "The post-exposure somatic and psychosocial effects such as respiratory symptoms of CWA are a plausible contributors to poor general health and quality of life among survivors. We conclude that multidisciplinary interventions are needed to tackle the biopsychosocial complications in survivors of SM exposure to minimize further health damage in the future, as well as to promote their health-related quality of life."[12]
It is occasionally suggested[13] thatcyanide was also included among these chemical weapons, though this assertion has been cast into doubt, as cyanide is a natural byproduct of impure Tabun.[14]
Before the war ended the Iraqis moved in on the ground and completely destroyed the town.[15] In March 2010, the Iraqi High Criminal Court recognized the Halabja massacre asgenocide; the decision was welcomed by theKurdistan Regional Government.[16]
In the mountains to the east of Halabja, a militant KurdishIslamist group,Ansar al-Islam, occupied a small enclave in the period of 2000–2003. The area was overrun byPeshmerga forces from thePatriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), withU.S.air support, at the beginning of the2003 US invasion of Iraq. The town has remained a center of Islamism in the Kurdistan region, however.[citation needed]
Just before Kurds gained some autonomy over theIraqi Kurdistan region in 1991, which included Halabja, a new town was set up where some former Kurdish refugees later relocated. The new town calledHalabja Taza (orNew Halabja) today has an estimated 9,000 homes.[17]
TheKurdistan Regional Government made some concentrated reconstruction efforts after 2003 in the old town and began rebuilding some of the bombed-out homes in Halabja and paving new roads. A memorial was also constructed for the victims of the chemical attacks. However, residents of Halabja have complained about the continued lack of basic services and necessities.[18]
On the 2006 anniversary of the gas attack, violent demonstrations erupted in Halabja. An estimated 7,000 demonstrators protested against priorities in reconstruction, claiming that officials were not sincerely addressing the problems of the gas attack victims. Roadblocks were set up and the gas attackmemorial museum was set afire. Police fired at protesters killing one 14-year-old boy and wounding many others.[19]
In 2008, plans were announced to construct an internationalairport for the city.[20]
On 12 November 2017 at 21:18 local time, anearthquake struck approximately 32 kilometres (20 mi) south-southwest of Halabja.[21]
Halabja has a hot-summerMediterranean climate (Csa) with very hot summers and cool wet winters.
| Climate data for Halabja | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.6 (49.3) | 11.8 (53.2) | 16.9 (62.4) | 22.0 (71.6) | 29.5 (85.1) | 35.8 (96.4) | 39.6 (103.3) | 39.2 (102.6) | 35.0 (95.0) | 28.4 (83.1) | 19.7 (67.5) | 12.5 (54.5) | 25.0 (77.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.8 (40.6) | 6.6 (43.9) | 11.2 (52.2) | 15.8 (60.4) | 22.0 (71.6) | 27.4 (81.3) | 31.2 (88.2) | 30.8 (87.4) | 26.4 (79.5) | 20.5 (68.9) | 13.3 (55.9) | 7.3 (45.1) | 18.1 (64.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.1 (32.2) | 1.4 (34.5) | 5.6 (42.1) | 9.7 (49.5) | 14.5 (58.1) | 19.0 (66.2) | 22.8 (73.0) | 22.5 (72.5) | 17.9 (64.2) | 12.7 (54.9) | 7.0 (44.6) | 2.2 (36.0) | 11.3 (52.3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 144 (5.7) | 146 (5.7) | 132 (5.2) | 85 (3.3) | 35 (1.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 28 (1.1) | 79 (3.1) | 124 (4.9) | 773 (30.4) |
| Source:[22] | |||||||||||||
Halabja is located in theShahrizor plain, a fertile valley nestled in the foothills of theZagros Mountains in theKurdistan Region of Iraq. The city's elevation is around 700 meters above sea level. The surrounding area is characterized by mountainous terrain, with theHawramanMountain range to the east, which plays a significant role in the city’s climate and geography. The region’stopography includes rolling hills and valleys, making it ideal for agriculture, particularly in the fertile plains.[23]
Media related toHalabja at Wikimedia Commons
35°11′N45°59′E / 35.183°N 45.983°E /35.183; 45.983
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