Hussein Julood, a father from Iraq, has filed a lawsuit against British energy giant BP, alleging that pollution from the company’s oil field operations caused his son’s leukemia. The lawsuit, which is believed to be the first of its kind, seeks compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, and moral damages.
Julood’s son Ali was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 15. He underwent two years of treatment including multiple courses of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and radiotherapy. Ali passed away at the age of 21.
Julood alleges that the burning off of gas at the BP-run Rumaila oil field near his family home caused Ali’s leukemia. An investigation two years ago found that their village had high levels of cancer-causing pollutants known to come from “flaring”.
Gas flaring is the burning of gas released in oil extraction and can contain a mixture of harmful cancer-causing chemicals such as benzene.
The claim letter alleges “toxic emissions from the Rumaila oilfield” caused Ali’s leukemia and ultimately death. It says BP, as a lead contractor, is accountable.
Julood is seeking compensation for the cost of his son’s medical treatment, including overseas trips for chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants, as well as loss of earnings, funeral costs, and “moral loss”.
“I am just hoping for those who hear my voice, from BP, to consider my situation. I am not representing myself alone, I am also representing those poor people living here and suffering from pollution,” Hussein Julood told the BBC.
Wessen Jazrawi, partner at Hausfeld & Co, which is representing Julood, said: “This is an important example of environmental litigation seeking compensation for harmful emissions from a carbon major. Such companies have generally been able to carry out harmful environmental practices with impunity, particularly where these occur in the Global South.”
If BP rejects the claim, the next step would be for Mr. Julood to issue a court claim, and the case could then be heard before judges in the UK.
Mr. Julood said a key aim of his claim was that regular flaring should be stopped in Rumaila.
The Standard has contacted BP for comment.
