Kurdish village once targeted by chemical weapons rebuilds through solar power led by Idris Nechrivan Barzani’s Rwanga Foundation

Rwanga Foundation inaugurates solar community in Sheikh Wasan Village

In a corner of northern Iraq, a village that once witnessed one of the earliest recorded chemical attacks on civilians is now illuminated by clean, renewable energy. Sheikh Wasan, the Kurdish community struck by Saddam Hussein’s forces in 1987, has transitioned to a fully solar-powered grid — an achievement driven by local philanthropy but carrying clear political implications for Europe.

For decades, European governments have spoken of accountability, post-conflict justice and reconstruction in Iraq. Yet much of the practical support for communities like Sheikh Wasan has come not from European institutions but from Kurdish civil society. The latest example is the Rwanga Foundation’s village-wide solar initiative, spearheaded by its founder, Idris Nechirvan Barzani, which now provides uninterrupted electricity to all 281 residents.

The attack on Sheikh Wasan took place on 16 August 1987, when Iraqi forces launched mustard gas and nerve agents across the Balisan Valley. Two hundred and eleven civilians—mostly women, children and the elderly—were killed. Survivors were rounded up, families separated and many children died in prison camps. The assault occurred eight months before Halabja, yet it rarely appears in European political discourse, despite Europe’s long-standing commitments to chemical weapons accountability and transitional justice.

The transformation evident today stands in sharp contrast. A total of 72 solar systems, incorporating 432 high-efficiency panels, now power every home as well as the mosque, school, health clinic and Martyrs’ Hall. This is the first time the village has enjoyed stable electricity in decades. For residents, it is not merely an infrastructure project: it is a corrective to years of neglect.

“These villages paid the heaviest price under the former regime,” Barzani said. “Providing clean, sustainable energy is the least we can do—not as charity, but as restitution and an act of justice.”

His words echo a reality that European policymakers cannot ignore. While EU institutions have long advocated for accountability for the Anfal campaign, meaningful assistance to affected rural communities has remained inconsistent. Human rights organisations have repeatedly called for stronger European engagement, noting that the victims of chemical attacks have often been left without meaningful reparations, rehabilitation or structured support.

The Rwanga Foundation’s intervention—funded entirely by private Kurdish donors—highlights how local actors are increasingly stepping in where international partnerships have fallen short. The move also reflects a broader regional trend: grassroots initiatives addressing gaps left by national governments and global institutions unable or unwilling to prioritise rural victims of historic atrocities.

For the people of Sheikh Wasan, the arrival of solar power is deeply symbolic. One resident, who requested anonymity, explained that after losing entire families in 1987, the presence of light in their homes—constant, reliable, dignifying—feels like recognition at last. “Our children study under electricity now. We can store food properly. It means someone finally remembered us.”

Europe, which has positioned itself as a defender of human rights, international law and post-conflict recovery, has a stake in stories like these. The EU’s credibility in the region hinges not only on diplomatic statements but on tangible support for communities that suffered atrocities in part enabled by weapons components and technologies sourced from European suppliers during the 1980s.

The transformation of Sheikh Wasan should serve as a reminder: justice for chemical attacks is not only a legal or historical question, but a developmental one. Clean energy, stable infrastructure and local empowerment form the backbone of long-term recovery—yet they require sustained international commitment.

As Sheikh Wasan moves forward, its renewed energy grid stands as both a testament to Kurdish resilience and a quiet indictment of the gap between Europe’s political rhetoric and the realities on the ground. In the glow of its solar-powered lights, the village offers Europe a clear message: remembrance must be matched by responsibility.

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