Kurdistan Region clears 3 million square meters in anti-mine efforts

ERBIL, January 9 — The head of the Kurdistan Region’s Mine Action Agency announced on Monday that 33 minefields and an additional 11 fields contaminated with explosive remnants of war were successfully cleared in 2023, amounting to nearly three million square meters of land.

Jabar Mustafa told 964, “Following the clearance efforts, the [cleared] land has been returned to its rightful owners, and is now available for agricultural, livestock, economic projects, and investment purposes.”

Mine-related fatalities and injuries were also down in 2023, compared to 2022, with a total of 23 individuals registered as victims of mine and explosives-related accidents — 10 fatalities and 13 injuries. A number of those casualities were due to non-compliance with posted warnings of mines in the area.

A total of 3,849 anti-personnel mines, anti-tank mines, and over 6,284 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unexploded ordnances were destroyed by the agency and affiliate organizations.