Minefield clearance near completion in Choman district after decades of danger

ERBIL – Authorities are nearing the completion of a critical mine-clearing operation in the Choman district, within the Soran independent administration of Erbil governorate. The minefield, which has posed a deadly threat to residents for more than 40 years, is expected to be fully cleared within the next two days, according to the Iraqi Kurdistan Mines Action Agency.

The minefield, known as Marin, is being cleared by the Erbil Mine Action Directorate with assistance from Slovenia’s ITF organization. The joint operation, which began approximately 35 days ago, is now in its final stage, the agency reported in a statement.

Covering an area of about 26,325 square meters, the hazardous site is located near farmland and grazing zones. So far, 132 anti-personnel mines and eight items of unexploded ordnance have been discovered and safely removed.

The agency highlighted the severe impact this minefield has had on the local community over the decades, causing numerous casualties and leading to the deaths of hundreds of livestock. The presence of these mines has rendered the land unusable for productive activities.

The contamination of these lands dates back to the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988, when the Iraqi army turned large swaths of agricultural land into hazardous minefields, devastating the region’s rural infrastructure. Successive Iraqi governments contributed to this situation, leaving vast areas of the Kurdistan Region inaccessible and dangerous.

Significant progress has been made in clearing these areas, thanks to ongoing efforts by the Iraqi Kurdistan Mines Action Agency and support from international organizations. According to a statement provided to 964media, approximately 65% of the contaminated areas in the Kurdistan Region have been cleared, though an estimated 300 million square meters remain affected.

In 2023, the agency recorded 23 incidents involving mines and unexploded ordnances, resulting in 10 deaths and 13 injuries or maimings. Since the establishment of the Kurdistan Regional Government in 1991, a total of 13,500 people have been killed or wounded by mines in the region.

The demining efforts in 2023 alone led to the clearance of 2,803,326 square meters of land, surpassing the previous year’s achievements. This includes 33 minefields and 11 battle zones. The cleared lands have been returned to their rightful owners, allowing them to be safely used for agriculture, livestock, economic projects, and other productive purposes without any remaining threat.