Halabja facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Halabja هەڵەبجە  (Kurdish) Helebce
City
Halabja city
Halabja Location in Iraq
Country	Iraq
Autonomous region	Kurdistan Region
Governorate	Halabja
Established	1650 BC
Area
• Total	1,600 km2 (600 sq mi)
Elevation	900 m (3,000 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Total	145,700
Time zone	UTC+3

Halabja (Kurdish: هەڵەبجە, romanized: Helebce, Arabic: حلبجة) is a city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It is the capital of Halabja Governorate. This city is located about 150 kilometers (93 miles) northeast of Baghdad. It is also very close to the Iranian border, only about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) away.

Halabja sits at the foot of the larger Hewraman region. This area stretches across the border between Iran and Iraq. The city is surrounded by mountains: the Hawraman and Shnrwe ranges to the northeast, and the Balambo range to the south. The Sirwan river flows to its west. Most people in Halabja speak the Sorani dialect of Kurdish. However, some people in nearby villages speak the Hewrami dialect.

Halabja's Long History

Ancient Beginnings

Halabja has a very long history. We know this from old sites nearby, like Bakr Awa. A cemetery there holds the tombs of important people, such as Ahmed Mukhtar Jaff and Adila Khanim. Some believe the ancient city-kingdom of Lullubi might be located under or near Halabja. In 2009, three tombs from the 1600s were found in the Ababile area of the town.

This shows that Halabja is older than some sources suggest. Some thought it was built by the Ottoman Empire around 1850. But the city really grew in the early 1900s. A post office opened in 1924, and the first school started the next year. Bazaars (markets) were built in 1932. Electricity only came to the city in 1940.

Halabja During World War I

In the early 1900s, many British soldiers were stationed in Halabja. During World War I, a brave woman named Adela Khanum saved the lives of several British soldiers. Because of this, the British gave her the special title "Khan Bahadur," which means "Princess of the Brave." She also helped build a new prison, set up a court, and built a new market.

The Anfal Campaign

Between 1987 and 1989, the Iraqi Government carried out the Al-Anfal campaign. During this time, some neighborhoods in Halabja were destroyed in 1987. This was done as punishment for supporting the Peshmerga, a Kurdish fighting group. Halabja suffered even more during this campaign. Saddam Hussein's government strongly stopped Kurdish revolts during the Iran–Iraq War.

The Chemical Attack on Halabja

A Tragic Day

On March 16, 1988, a terrible event happened in Halabja. Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, with help from Iran, had taken control of the city. At 11:00 AM, after two days of regular attacks, Iraqi planes dropped gas containers on the town. The city and its surrounding areas were hit with bombs, artillery, and chemical weapons. The chemical weapons caused the most damage.

The Impact of the Attack

At least 5,000 people died right away from the chemical attack. It is thought that another 7,000 people were hurt or became sick for a long time. Most of the victims were Kurdish civilians.

The attack likely used nerve agents like Tabun, Sarin, and VX, along with mustard gas. However, some experts believe Iraq did not have the nerve agents used. They did have mustard gas, which was used in the Iran–Iraq War. A study in 2019 showed that the chemical attacks still affect survivors' health and well-being today. They often have breathing problems and other health issues.

In March 2010, an Iraqi court officially called the Halabja massacre a genocide. This decision was welcomed by the Kurdistan Regional Government.

After the War

Before the war ended, Iraqi forces moved in and completely destroyed Halabja.

Kurdish Self-Rule and Rebuilding

New Beginnings

In the mountains west of Halabja, a group called Ansar al-Islam controlled a small area from 2000 to 2003. This area was taken over by Peshmerga forces with help from the U.S. at the start of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. Even so, Halabja has remained a center for certain Islamic groups in the Kurdistan region.

Just before Kurds gained some self-rule over the Iraqi Kurdistan region in 1991, which included Halabja, a new town was built. It was called Halabja Taza (or New Halabja). Many Kurdish refugees later moved there. Today, New Halabja has about 9,000 homes.

Reconstruction Efforts

After 2003, the Kurdistan Regional Government worked hard to rebuild the old town. They started fixing bombed homes and paving new roads. A memorial was also built to remember the victims of the chemical attacks. However, people in Halabja have sometimes complained about not having enough basic services.

On the anniversary of the gas attack in 2006, protests broke out in Halabja. About 7,000 people protested, saying that officials were not truly helping the gas attack victims. Roads were blocked, and the gas attack memorial museum was set on fire. Police fired at the protesters, sadly killing a 14-year-old boy and hurting many others.

Modern Times in Halabja

Recent Developments

In 2008, plans were announced to build an international airport for the city. This would help connect Halabja to the rest of the world.

On November 12, 2017, an earthquake struck near Halabja. It happened about 32 kilometers (20 miles) south-southwest of the city.

Halabja's Climate

Halabja has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa). This means it has very hot summers and cool, wet winters.

Halabja's Geography

Halabja is located in the Shahrizor plain. This is a very fertile valley found at the bottom of the Zagros Mountains in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The city is about 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level. The area around it has many mountains, including the Hawraman Mountain range to the east. These mountains greatly affect the city’s weather and landscape. The region also has rolling hills and valleys, which are great for farming.

See also

In Spanish: Halabja para niños