ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region leaders on Monday commemorated the 38th anniversary Halabja chemical attack, paying respects to the victims, and reiterating calls on Baghdad to compensate the those impacted by the tragedy.

As the Iraq-Iran was drawing to an end, on March 16, 1988, Halabja was bombarded with chemical gas by the regime of former dictator Saddam Hussein, killing over 5,000 and injuring at least 10,000.

In a statement on Monday, President Masoud Barzani called the attacks a “great injustice,” stressing that it is a historical and legal responsibility for Baghdad to compensate the victims. 

“The legacy of that heinous crime still persists in Iraq, where there are chauvinists against the rights of the Kurdish nation,” President Barzani said.

“The crime of Halabja and all the crimes of the Anfal are a historical and legal responsibility upon Iraq and must be compensated to the Kurdish nation,” he added.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also honored the victims of the Halabja chemical attacks, reminding the Iraqi government of its responsibility to fairly compensate all victims of the fallen Baath regime.

“We must always remember that today’s achievements are the fruits of immense sacrifices, and we must protect them in every way,” read a statement from the Kurdish premier.

Joining the choir, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani paid respects to the victims, and reiterated Baghdad’s responsibility to compensate survivors and their families.

“Halabja was not only an attempt to physically wipe out the Kurds, but also a crime against humanity and a brutal attack on the will of a people who only demanded life and freedom,” read a statement from Barzani.

In 2010, Iraq’s Supreme Criminal Tribunal officially recognized the crimes committed against Halabja as genocide.

Many survivors of the gas attack still suffer health problems, seeking medical treatments in and outside Iraq.

Halabja, with a population of around 200,000, became Iraq’s 19th province in April last year, with the city’s locals expressing hope that the accession would help accelerate its growth, and reflect in Halabja's international standing and the recognition of the tragic 1988 chemical attack.