KRG Mine Action Agency clears unexploded ordnance, landmines in Soran

SORAN — The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Mine Action Agency announced Friday the successful removal of numerous landmines and unexploded ordnance in the Soran Autonomous Administration region during several recent demining operations.

Residents and local authorities in the Galala sub-district, Soran, alerted the agency to the presence of hazardous mines. Over two days, authorities conducted four operations to clear these threats.

Among the finds, eight SB33 anti-personnel mines were neutralized in a minefield near Khizi village in the Nawberga area of Choman district during mechanical team operations. Additionally, eight pieces of unexploded ordnance were removed from Choman district.

In the Galala sub-district, 26 V69 anti-personnel mines were cleared, unearthed during soil excavation. Three unexploded ordnance pieces were also removed from Sidakan sub-district during ground excavation.

The Mine Action Agency confirmed that all operations were completed safely, with no reported casualties.

The Kurdistan Region, heavily affected by years of conflict, including the Iran-Iraq War and battles with the former Baathist regime, remains one of the most mine-contaminated areas. The agency estimates around 258 square kilometers are still contaminated despite clearance efforts since 1992.

In 2023, the mine agency documented 23 mine-related incidents, resulting in 10 fatalities and 13 injuries. Since the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government in 1991, a total of 13,500 people have been killed or injured by landmines in the region.

High-risk areas include Sulaymaniyah governorate and border regions such as Penjwen, Soran, Choman, Halabja, and Garmiyan.

Awareness campaigns on the dangers of landmines and unexploded ordnance are ongoing. In mid-July, two teams from the Directorate of Mine Affairs in Erbil carried out awareness programs targeting families in Soran’s border areas.