Environment Ministry launches plan to clear Al-Faw from landmines
Workers clearing landmines in Basra, Iraq. Photo: Reuters
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Ministry of Environment announced on Monday it prepared a plan, in partnership with the Ministry of Defense, to clear the Al-Faw Peninsula from landmines, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.
The Director General of the Directorate for Mine Action (DMA) of the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, Sabah Al-Husseini, explained that the government is working on promoting important sectors in Basra governorate, INA mentioned.
Al-Husseini elaborated that the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, is now focusing on major projects in Al-Faw and the Al-Faw port, as well as the Nibras project for petrochemicals and carrying out water desalination plants.
“We hope that support will be available for this issue after the general budget is approved to clear Al-Faw from landmines to be ready for major projects,” Al-Husseini clarified.
The Iraqi official illustrated that Al-Faw has about 130 square kilometers that require explosive ordnance clearance.
“A technical and non-technical survey of this area will be carried out. It is expected that part of this area will be clear of contamination, and we will work to identify high-risk areas,” Al-Husseini added.
Last October, two Iraqi members of a team working for the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) were killed and a third was injured in an incident at an explosive ordnance clearance site at Shatt Al-Arab near Basra in southern Iraq.
The incident occurred at the site managed by Al Khebra Al Fania (AKAF), which is one of UNMAS Iraq’s implementing partners.
The UNMAS mentioned in a statement that the clearance operations are essential for the safety of impacted communities and safe access to land for agricultural activities and development.