Iraq Called Upon to Remove Anti-Personnel Mines in the Region

Iraq acceded to the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of
Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, also known as the
Ottawa Treaty, in 2008. In doing so, it committed itself to destroy
stockpiled mines in four years and to clear minefields in 10 years.
However, a newly released United Nations report calls upon Iraq for
greater efforts to ensure a safe environment for the population and
warning that the country may be unable to meet its obligations under
an international treaty to rid the country of the deadly scourge of
anti-personnel land mines.

In the joint report issued by the
United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Children's
Fund, along with the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, concerns were
raises that the country is unable to meet its treaty obligations.
Paolo Lembo, United Nations Development Program's Country Director
for Iraq said that "after decades of war and conflict, Iraq has
become one of the world's most contaminated countries in terms of
land mines and unexploded remnants of war, impacting the daily lives
of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis." Mr. Lembo added,
"unfortunately, with the Government's current capacities and
resources, it is unlikely Iraq will be able to meet its obligations
under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, as it will take decades to
clear all mines and unexploded ordnance."

The report, "Overview of Land mines
and Explosive Remnants of War in Iraq," points out that
approximately 20 million land mines and 2.6 million cluster bombs are
contaminating more than 1,700 square kilometers of Iraq's land,
including oil fields and farmlands. "These unexploded remnants of
war are affecting more than 1.6 million Iraqis in some 4,000
communities by significantly impeding both their own and their
country's economic recovery," the agencies said in a joint news
release.

Since 2008, around 20 square kilometers
have been cleared by national and international demining
organizations and nearly 276,700 people have received mine-awareness
training through UNICEF-supported activities. According to UNICEF,
around 1 million Iraqi children are at risk of being injured or
killed by mines and unexploded ordnance. In addition, 2,000 children
have been maimed or killed by cluster bombs since 2003.

Sikander Khan, UNICEF's Iraq
Representative said "Iraqi children have the right to grow up in a
safe environment without risk to their well-being and lives as much
as any other child in the world." Sikander Khan said that "more
action to clear mines and other unexploded ordnance is urgently
needed so all Iraqi children can grow up without fear of this hidden
enemy and be assured of a safer and better future."