The Kurdish Exodus of April 1991: A Lens on Global Forced Migrations
By Sirwan Abdulkarim Ali / Politician and Academic
Remembering the 34th anniversary of the Kurdish Exodus of April 1991, I am drawn to my own memories as a 19-year-old fresh fighter who experienced this defining moment firsthand. What began as youthful idealism of a freedom fighter and a strong passion to adventures quickly transformed into a desperate struggle for survival. After our people's collective decision to retreat to the borders, I found myself responsible for supporting my mother and family of eight—, my sister, and five brothers—along with another family through the treacherous journey from Takya (near Chamchamal) to Khurmal (near Halabja), and finally across the Iranian border to the refugee camp of Tazeabad (near Kermanshah).
For seven grueling days, we navigated dangerous mountain passages, endured harsh weather conditions, and witnessed scenes of unimaginable suffering. The trail was marked by those who could not continue—elderly people who collapsed from exhaustion, children who succumbed to exposure, and the injured who had no access to medical care. These were not anonymous statistics but neighbors, friends, and fellows whose lives ended in exile from their homeland. The scale of death and suffering I witnessed along those roads remains seared in my memory, a personal window into one of history's great humanitarian tragedies.
This exodus, which saw hundreds of thousands of Kurdish civilians flee their homes in Iraqi Kurdistan, offers not only a crucial moment in Kurdish history but also a powerful lens through which to view the universal human suffering caused by armed conflict, persecution, and political instability across cultures and throughout history. This mass migration began after Kurdish uprisings against the Iraqi regime were met with devastating military force. Families abandoned their homes, creating one of the largest and most rapid refugee crises in modern history. The international response eventually came through Operation Provide Comfort, which established protective measures and humanitarian aid. This intervention ultimately paved the way for the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan Region, fundamentally altering the political landscape for the Kurdish people.
While we remember the Kurdish exodus of the twentieth century, similar tragedies continue to unfold across the globe, Syria has witnessed one of the largest displacement crises since World War II, with over 6 million refugees fleeing the country and another 6 million or more internally displaced since 2011. The conflict has destroyed cities and separated families, creating a humanitarian emergency that has strained resources across the Middle East and Europe.
Palestine, particularly Gaza, has seen acute displacement crises, with the recent conflict since October 2023 forcing over a million people to evacuate their homes within days. Multiple generations of Palestinians have experienced forced displacement, creating one of the world's longest-running refugee situations.
Yemen's civil war has created what the United Nations’ calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with over 3 million people internally displaced and 80% of the population requiring humanitarian assistance. Blockades, bombing campaigns, and economic collapse have created catastrophic conditions.
Sudan has faced multiple waves of displacement, particularly since April 2023 when conflict between rival military factions erupted. Over 7 million people have been internally displaced, with hundreds of thousands seeking refuge in neighboring countries as violence, food insecurity, and disease spread. These contemporary crises echo historical precedents of forced migration that have shaped our world:
The Armenian Genocide (1915-1917) saw the Ottoman Empire systematically deport and massacre approximately 1.5 million Armenians. Those who survived the death marches faced exile from their ancestral homelands, creating a global diaspora. This traumatic event fundamentally altered the Armenian national identity and continues to resonate in international relations today.
The Transatlantic Slave Trade (16th-19th centuries) represents one of history's most devastating forced migrations. Approximately 12 million Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic, with about 10 million surviving the notorious Middle Passage. This involuntary exodus not only caused immeasurable human suffering but also permanently transformed the cultural, economic, and demographic landscapes of multiple continents.
The Partition of India (1947) uprooted an estimated 15 million people in one of history's largest mass migrations. The division of British India into two independent nations—India and Pakistan—triggered massive population exchanges, with Muslims moving to Pakistan while Hindus and Sikhs relocated to India. This chaotic process was marked by sectarian violence that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and created lasting tensions in South Asia.
Despite the unique historical contexts of each exodus, certain elements remain distressingly universal: the trauma of leaving one's home under duress; journeys fraught with physical danger and uncertainty; the struggle to preserve cultural identity in new lands; and the fundamental human drive to survive against overwhelming odds.
Whether Kurdish families trudging through mountain passes, Syrian refugees crossing treacherous seas, or families separated during the India-Pakistan partition, the human experience of forced migration transcends particular identities. The mother carrying her child while fleeing bombardment, the elderly person struggling during a forced march, the family trying to preserve their dignity in a refugee camp—these represent a shared human experience that cuts across nationality, race, religion, and color.
Equally important is recognizing the remarkable resilience displayed by displaced populations. The Kurdish people maintained their cultural identity through multiple displacements; Armenian communities preserved their heritage despite genocide; and countless refugee communities worldwide have demonstrated extraordinary courage and determination in rebuilding their lives.
The 34th anniversary of the Kurdish exodus serves as both a remembrance of a specific historical trauma and a reminder of our shared responsibility toward the future of Kurdistan Region, formation of the new cabinet, and the displaced peoples worldwide. When we view mass displacements not as isolated incidents affecting "others" but as variations on a tragically recurring human pattern, we begin to recognize our common vulnerability and collective obligation to prevent such suffering. In commemorating the April 1991 exodus, we honor all those throughout history who have endured the trauma of forced migration, while recommitting ourselves to building a world where such displacements become remnants of the past rather than continuing realities.
