Blood Samples Collected from Relatives of Anfal Victims in Chamchamal

PUKMEDIA Archive

A woman displays a photograph of her loved one, lost during the Anfal campaign.

The national campaign to collect blood samples and information from the relatives of Anfal victims continues today in Chamchamal town, as authorities work to identify the remains recovered from mass graves across Iraq.

Iraqi Presidential Advisor Pari Nuri confirmed that the blood samples are being collected to compare with bone samples previously taken from the victims’ bodies. “Relatives of the Anfal victims are cooperating fully and have welcomed the team to provide information and blood samples. They are eager for this process to succeed and have expressed their gratitude to the First Lady of Iraq for her support,” Nuri said.

Last year, authorities repatriated 172 bodies to the Anfal cemetery in Chamchamal and uncovered several other graves, including a mass grave in Samawa. All recovered bodies were sampled, and the current collection of blood from relatives will allow forensic teams to match these samples with the remains.

This marks the fourth occasion blood samples have been collected from relatives in Chamchamal and the eighth across the Kurdistan Region, reflecting ongoing efforts to bring closure to families affected by the Anfal campaign.

This initiative by the Iraqi First Lady forms part of a wider national programme to document and identify victims of past atrocities, helping families achieve justice and preserve the memory of those lost.


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