Talking With ‘Shabnam Sheikhi’, a Chemically Injured Patient from Sardasht City

Still her rasping coughs indicate the bitter disaster that she experienced in Sardasht city. She talks about her tears and the difficulties that she bore in Sardasht city.

The following text is an exclusive interview with Shabnam Sheikhi, one of the victims of Iraq’s chemical warefare:

Shabnam Sheikhi, one of the chemically injured patients from Sardasht city in an interview with the reporter of Chemical Weapons Victims Information Base said: “At that time I was only 6 years old. On that day, I was supposed to go to my aunt’s house along with my mother and sisters. We had just arrived to the aunt’s house, suddenly the sound of Iraqi aircrafts was heard in the sky of Sardasht city. These sounds had become ordinary for us. After a few minutes we felt the smell of chemical gases. My aunt went to the kitchen to check the gas valve, but she did not find anything wrong with the home gas pipe and valve. Our eyes were irritating, but the city’s water had been cut off. We could not wash our faces. My father arrived there and he informed us that the enemy has bombarded the city with poisonous gases and we should leave the city as soon as possible.”

She continued: “We children were crying in tears and the adults were so worried. In the way to hospital I and my sisters had a bad health condition. They took us to Mehabad with a helicopter. Being separated from my mom and my dad was really frightening and sad for me. After this event, it lasted a week that my father was able to find me in the hospital. The skin of my body had been fully blistered in a way that my father could hardly distinguish me. I saw him for several times in the hospital, but I could not talk and tell him that I was there, but I hardly spoke and informed him that I was there.”

This victim of chemical weapons mentioned: “After this event, I, my mother and my sister were dispatched to Spain to receive treatment. I had a 3-year-old sister who was martyred during this attack. We had a very hard medical term in Spain. They would cut the blisters with a blade everyday and they would sterilize the wounds. But my mother’s eyes condition was so bad. They would inject an ampoule to her eyes everyday and this issue was really difficult for me and my sister.”

She said: “After returning from Spain, my father took us to Oromiyeh, so we were living there. But I was always sick and on the other hand I had got used to with this situation. Even this injury made me so serious to continue my education. I was able to graduate from Tabriz University and get my bachelor degree in the field of Chemistry.”

Sheikhi continued: “Due to the effects of chemical weapons in my body, my son was born at 7-month-old. Even the physicians didn’t have any hope that he survives, but I had to tolerate this situation under difficult conditions, but fortunately right now have two healthy sons and one of them is 6 years old and the other is 7 years old.”

She regarding her education said: “When my children were born, I continued my education. At the moment I have master degree in Chemistry; also I have decided to get my PhD as well.”

This woman who is a victim of chemical weapons from Sardasht city regarding the physical health condition added: “At the moment my physical health condition is good, but I have to use spray and medicines continuously, during the times that there is much air pollution, I get sick intensively and right now not only me, but also my family are victims of chemical weapons and they suffer the pains resulted from chemical weapons as well.”

Regarding the chemical bombardment which was directed against Sardasht city, she said: “The chemical bombardment which took place against Sarasht city was the biggest disaster. Using poisonous gases against civil areas, where ordinary people live and pass their daily life and have no military position is really shameful. If the correspondents and reporters had done their duty correctly at that time and the public opinion had been familiarized with that event and the humanitarian thoughts of people had been stimulated, this event would not be repeated against Halabja too. Sardasht is a city that has not reached its real rights yet; the people of this city need more facilities and attentions. Even in our own country, the chemical bombardments which took place against Sardasht city have not been reflected well and this is something unfair against a city such as Sardasht.”

The End