Duhok mine teams launch clearance and awareness efforts in tourist areas

DUHOK — Two separate teams from the Duhok Mine Directorate have carried out mine-related activities in Shiladze subdistrict, a popular tourist destination that draws large numbers of visitors daily.

One team conducted awareness campaigns, putting up signs and distributing leaflets to advise residents and tourists on how to stay safe from landmines and unexploded ordnance. A second team focused on clearing mines discovered in several sites within the subdistrict.

In addition, three clearance teams are operating in the Sarsing subdistrict, where they are removing mines from surrounding areas. The directorate urged residents and tourists to immediately report any war remnants to its staff.

The Kurdistan Region remains heavily affected by landmines, a legacy of decades of conflict, including the Iran-Iraq War, fighting under the Baathist regime, and later instability. Mines and unexploded ordnance continue to endanger rural communities, threatening both lives and livelihoods.

Official figures show landmine explosions caused 11 casualties in the Kurdistan Region in 2024, including four deaths and seven injuries or amputations. In 2023, there were 23 incidents, resulting in 10 fatalities and 13 injuries.