Babil village reports surge in cancer cases as alarms raised over local landfill fires

BABIL — Residents of Siyaha, a farming village north of Hilla, say cancer cases have exceeded 100 in the past year, with 23 deaths, a toll representing more than 3 percent of the community’s 3,000 residents.

Mukhtar Khalil Karim told 964media that most patients are farmers with limited incomes who have been forced to sell property, vehicles, and equipment to cover treatment costs. “Deaths happened because patients lacked money for treatment or travel abroad. We tried to rely on donations from villagers, but the numbers are too high,” he said.

Mutar Issa, one of the patients, said his illness began after smoke from nearby landfill fires reached the area. “The PET scan alone costs 600,000 dinars ($425), and I had to do it four times. My surgery cost more than 12 million dinars ($8,511), and I sold my car to pay for treatment,” he said. “I traveled to India and spent about $6,000, but it was of no use. Today I need new tests, but I don’t have enough money.”

Another resident, Talib al-Dulaimi, said he spent $20,000 on treatment in India. “Doctors treated me like a profitable case. I still go to Marjan Hospital’s oncology center for chemotherapy. I had to sell my generator and my car to pay for treatment,” he said.

Haider al-Maamouri, who underwent 12 surgeries in Iran, Erbil, and Syria for bladder cancer, said, “My health is better now, but I lost huge amounts of money. I sold my car, a piece of land, and a tractor.”

Residents link the rise in cancer to landfill smoke and repeated fires. On June 28, 2025, residents of Nahiyat al-Neel blocked access to the Siyahiya landfill in protest. Patients say injections cost up to 3 million dinars ($2,128), and surgeries often exceed $10,000.

Villagers are calling on the ministries of health and environment to investigate the causes and provide urgent support.

According to official data, Iraq recorded more than 43,000 new cancer cases in 2024, with an incidence rate of 171.6 per 100,000 people.