An Iraqi father took legal action against BP for the death of his son: ‘The environment is so polluted that we cannot breathe’ – Last Minute World News

An Iraqi father has launched legal action against British oil giant BP over the death of his 21-year-old son.

Hussein Julood claims that his son Ali suffered from leukemia due to the burning of gas at an oil field operated by BP in Iraq.

In Ali’s village, located within the oil field, a BBC study in 2022 revealed that there were high levels of cancer-causing pollutants resulting from the flaring process.

BP said “we understand the concerns” and stated that they support the change.

It is believed to be the first time a lawsuit has been filed by an individual against a major oil company over its flaring practices.

The petition, seen by the BBC, alleges that “toxic emissions from the Rumaila oil field” in south-east Iraq caused Ali’s leukemia and subsequent death, and that BP, as the main contractor, is partly responsible.

Julood is seeking compensation for the cost of his son’s medical treatment abroad, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, loss of earnings, funeral expenses and his son’s “moral loss.”

“I hope that BP hears my voice and takes my situation into consideration. I represent not only myself, but also the poor people who live here and suffer from pollution.”

Wessen Jazrawi of the Hausfeld & Co law firm, which represents Julood, called the case “an important example of environmental litigation” and said: “Such companies can often engage in harmful environmental practices with impunity, especially those that occur in the Global South.”

Flaring is the burning of gas released during the extraction of oil; The gas is dangerous to human health as it may contain a mixture of harmful chemicals that cause cancer, such as benzene.

According to BBC analysis of World Bank figures, the Rumaila oil field has the highest documented level of flaring in the world.

Hussein Julood states that he aims to stop regular gas burning so that no more families suffer.

Ali was 15 when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and underwent two years of treatment, including chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant and radiotherapy.

After a while, his disease relapsed and he died in April last year.

In 2021, the BBC Arabic Service conducted the first pollution monitoring at the Rumaila oil field. The results showed that local residents were at high risk of leukemia due to exposure to high levels of benzene and other carcinogenic substances.

The Iraqi government owns the Rumaila oil field; However, BP and China’s PetroChina are the main operator in the management of the field in partnership with a consortium called ROO.

According to the operating standards of the ROO, which BP has also signed, “Those affected by pollution levels exceeding national boundaries are legally entitled to compensation”.

Even though the activity in question took place in Iraq, Julood can file a lawsuit in British courts because BP is headquartered in England.

In response to the BBC’s request for comment, BP said it was not the operator of the Rumaila field, but that ROO “continues to actively support the main operator, Basra Energy Company Limited (BECL), in its work to assist with flaring gas and reducing emissions.”

Although an official at the time said ROO was trying to reduce gas flaring and “provided funding for public health initiatives,” Julood says he saw gas flaring and black smoke almost every day.

“These are false promises. There is no progress. The environment is so polluted that we cannot breathe,” he says.

Julood also said that since Ali’s death, four or five people have died of cancer, including a young child.

Julood’s lawyers say BP could negotiate compensation or deny the claim.

If BP rejects the request, the next step will be for Julood to apply to court and the case can be heard before judges in England.