Sulaymaniyah siblings injured in unexploded ordnance incident in Sufiyan village

SULAYMANIYAH — Two siblings were injured Saturday when an unexploded ordnance detonated in Sufiyan village, part of the Bingird subdistrict, local authorities said.

Bingird subdistrict director Mohammed Abdulrahman said the incident occurred at 11 a.m. when the children—aged 4 and 7—found a piece of unexploded ordnance near their home and threw stones at it, triggering the explosion. The blast severely injured the boy’s left-hand fingers, while the girl sustained a serious eye injury. Both remain under medical supervision, and doctors are closely monitoring their condition. Abdulrahman noted that the girl is expected to undergo surgery.

This incident follows on from another incident this morning in which an eight-year-old boy lost his left foot when an unexploded cluster munition detonated in the Tel Al-Lahm area, south of Dhi Qar. Security sources identified the device as a remnant of war.

The Kurdistan Region continues to grapple with landmine contamination and unexploded ordnance—a legacy of prolonged conflicts, including the Iran-Iraq War, clashes with the former Baathist regime, and ongoing regional instability. Initially, an estimated 776 square kilometers of land were contaminated, posing risks to local communities and hindering economic development. Since demining efforts began in 1992, approximately 576 square kilometers have been cleared, leaving about 200 square kilometers still hazardous.

Five days ago, a nine-year-old child died after a mortar shell exploded while playing in Haji Awad village in Garmian’s Kifri district.