Iraqi father launches legal action against BP over son's death from leukaemia

A father who claims his son’s leukaemia was cause by pollutants from processes used by energy giant BP has started legal action.

Hussein Julood alleges the burning off of gas at an oil field in Iraq near his family home caused his son Ali's leukaemia.

He has now started legal action over the death of his 21-year-old son Ali, the BBC has reported.

An investigation two years ago found that their village had high levels of cancer-causing pollutants known to come from “flaring”.

BP told the BBC "we understand the concerns" and are supporting change.

The claim letter alleges "toxic emissions from the Rumaila oilfield” caused his son’s leukaemia and ultimately death. It says BP, as a lead contractor, is accountable.

The case is believed to be the first time an individual has started legal action against a major oil firm over its flaring practices.

Mr Julood is seeking compensation for the cost of his son's medical treatment.

These include overseas trips for chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants - loss of earnings, funeral costs, as well as the "moral loss" of his son.

"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 Mr 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."

Gas flaring is the burning of gas released in oil extraction and can contain a mixture of harmful cancer-causing chemicals such as benzene.

Ali was 15 when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

He underwent two years of treatment including multiple courses of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and radiotherapy.

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.

A BP statement said: “We continue to actively support the lead contractor – Basra Energy Company Limited (BECL) – in its work to help the operator of the field, the Rumaila Operating Organisation (ROO), to reduce its flaring and emissions. We understand the concerns and we’re in action.“As we have stated before, bp is not and has never been the operator of the Rumaila field. Nor do we have any ownership interest or equity in the field or any right to the oil it produces.  Nevertheless, we continue to actively support the lead contractor – Basra Energy Company Limited (BECL) – in its work to help the operator of the field, the Rumaila Operating Organisation (ROO), to reduce its flaring and emissions.”