Maysan HEC: 1500 mines detonated in Maysan
Maysan (IraqiNews.com) The Head of the Health and Environment Commission in Maysan Provincial Council Maytham Lafta al-Fartousi, announced collecting and detonating more than (1500) mines in Abo Gharab district and the area near al-Sharhani border outpost in Maysan province. Fartousi said “These works of scanning, removing and detonating besides other acts pertaining to mines is still carried out by the Engineering Battalion of Iraqi Army 10th division.” “The high explosives which is used in the detonation process is (Alsimitx),” he added, noting that “This process needs high professionalism and this what we found in the battalion which is grappling for the life of the citizens who are subject to these blasts of mines in every moment.” He stressed that “The land of Maysan turned into a field of death after transplantation more than five million mines, the most dangerous kind is the so-called (Valmara) which can kill a dozen of people since it contains 1200 fragments.” The head of the HEC urged all ministries to participate in the national campaign to remove the mines whether theoretically or practically also he appealed the international organizations to offer assistance in this regard. It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of planning has approved a project set by Maysan Provincial Council to allocate IQD 2 billion as a first step to contract with companies specialized in the field of removing mines. The work is already proceeding in coordinating with the Ministry of Environment, the Mines Affairs Directorate to complete the legal proceedings for this humanitarian international major project.