IRAQ

The people of Iraq have suffered from the effects of landmines and UXO since the Iran-Iraq war. Numerous instances of military action since then have led to the amplification of the problem.   The most recent increase in landmine casualties, which were up a reported 90 percent in the Northern part of Iraq, occurred during the hostilities in 2003.  Recent conflicts and more than a decade of sanctions have impaired the health care system’s ability to handle the various needs of landmine survivors.

Survivor Assistance Partner

IRQ-SA-04

Handicap International Belgium serves a very large number of amputees, most of them victims of anti-personnel mines laid during the various recent conflicts (Iran/Iraq, Iraqi government/pro-Kurdish militia etc.). HI runs orthopedic centers as well as two de-localized centers (satellite units) to make primary care (physiotherapy, minor repairs to appliances) more accessible to villagers in border areas, who are the first to fall victim to accidents caused by mines (farmers, shepherds etc.).

Mine Clearance Partner

IRQ-MC-04

Mine clearance funds for the Mines Advisory Group will provide partial support for one Mine Action Team (MAT) working in Northern Iraq.  This team will carry out high priority tasks that will help make local communities, Internally Displaced Persons and returnees in this region safe from landmine and other forms of explosives.  The recent Emergency Mine Action Survey completed in February of 2004 identified 574 dangerous areas in 290 different communities in the region where this MAT is working.

Since 1988, eight people have lost their lives to mines/UXO in this immediate area of Qadir Karam.  Clearance work is made more difficult for the teams because local people have attempted to remove items themselves to clear the area for grazing sheep.   Not only do people put themselves in danger by moving mines but it also disrupts the landmine patterns, which makes it harder for the MAG teams to assess minefield boundaries and undertake clearance operations.