MAKHMOUR, Kurdistan Region – Medical supplies and safety equipment to protect against chemical weapons were delivered to the Kurdish forces on Tuesday by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders.
At an event near the Makhmour front, where 23 Peshmerga were injured by Islamic State gas attacks last month, officials with the aid organization donated more than 70 kilograms of supplies to the fighters, including 15 full protection suits, 10 external fixation devices and $500,000 worth of morphine.
“I am very fond of the Kurds and sad about their struggle,” said MSF’s Dr Jacques Beres who met with General Sirwan Barzani at Black Tiger Camp in Makhmour to hand over the aid packages.
“I met General Barzani a long time ago and we always talk about the Kurdish struggle.”
Chemical attacks launched by ISIS against the Peshmerga last month were confirmed by experts who found that the jihadists used mustard gas and chlorine in their weapons.
Fighters hit by the strikes, including three who attended the press conference, suffered serious burn wounds and peeling skin.
Beres said he took action after learning of the attacks.
“I was told there was no chemical weapons protection, and I knew I had to change that,” the doctor said.
He also knew it would not be easy shipping supplies to the Kurdistan region.
“It’s heavy, expensive and the drugs are illegal,” the doctor said. “I told Commander Barzani I would need help getting the supplies into the country.”
The Makhmour commander praised Beres for his solidarity with the Kurdish cause and his efforts to help fighters.
“We know thee limitation of (MSF) support, and we know that we need more,” Barzani said. “But we are very thankful that they took the first step, and we hope the support will be continued.”
Peshmerga fighter Mir Haj Hassan, 38, recalled the day he was attacked by chemical weapons and emphasized the need for protection against it.
“We had pain for more than a month,” Hassan said. “I still have pain and itching on my back.”
The ISIS mustard gas assaults mark the latest chemical attacks against the Kurds. In the late 1980s former dictator of Iraq Saddam Hussein waged genocidal warfare on the Kurds and used chemical weapons to kill up to 5,000 and injure more than 7,000. The Chemical Weapons Convention treaty of 1997 prohibits the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons.
As for the recent aid against the weapons, Hassan echoed the words of his commander.
“We are thankful for the medical support, and it is really useful,” Hassan said. We know it is not even near enough, though. We need much more help in the future.”
