Penjwen demining teams destroy 419 explosives as clearance efforts continue

PENJWEN — Demining teams in Penjwen district, Sulaymaniyah province, destroyed 419 landmines and explosive remnants on Wednesday as part of an ongoing clearance operation in an area heavily contaminated by decades-old munitions.

Mohammed Ibrahim Hassan, head of the district’s demining team, said Penjwen ranks first in Iraq for landmine contamination due to its location on the Iran-Iraq border and its role as a former battleground during the 1980s war.

“We need at least two more decades to fully clear Penjwen,” he told 964media, citing a shortage of equipment and challenging terrain as major obstacles. “Last week, we cleared about 100 landmines and explosive remnants,” he added.

Despite ongoing efforts, full clearance remains far off. Hassan warned that mountainous areas around Penjwen are especially difficult to access, slowing the pace of progress.

Much of the Kurdistan Region remains affected by unexploded ordnance from the Iran-Iraq War and military campaigns under Iraq’s former Baathist regime. Rural communities in remote, hilly terrain are particularly at risk.

In 2024, landmine-related explosions caused 11 casualties across the Kurdistan Region, including four deaths and seven cases of injury or amputation. In 2023, 23 incidents were recorded, resulting in 10 fatalities and 13 injuries.