UN Sounds Alarm: Iraq's Children Face Growing Landmine Crisis
On the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, both UNMAS and UNICEF sounded the alarm, calling for immediate and coordinated efforts to protect the country’s youngest and most vulnerable.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – As Iraq continues to grapple with the long shadow of war, a stark warning was issued on Friday by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and UNICEF: children remain at grave risk from landmines and explosive remnants of war.
On the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, both agencies sounded the alarm, calling for immediate and coordinated efforts to protect the country’s youngest and most vulnerable.
According to official UN reports, more than 314 children in Iraq have been killed or injured by explosive ordnance over the past five years. The ongoing threat of landmines not only endangers lives but also obstructs critical paths to education, healthcare, and economic stability, particularly for displaced families hoping to return home.
“The mission of the United Nations Mine Action Service in Iraq is to promote safety and to provide opportunities for stability and sustainable development,” said Mr. Pehr Lodhammar, Chief of Mine Action Programme at UNMAS Iraq.
“UNMAS will continue to support the Government of Iraq and the Directorate for Mine Action in addressing the explosive ordnance contamination and will spare no effort to pave the way for a safe and dignified return of Iraqi displaced people and productive use of the land.”
Despite persistent and dedicated work by national and international actors, more than 2,700 square kilometers of Iraqi land remain contaminated by unexploded ordnance, according to UN data. This vast danger zone represents a serious barrier to Iraq’s reconstruction and recovery, limiting safe access to farmland, schools, and vital infrastructure.
Ms. Sandra Lattouf, UNICEF Representative in Iraq, underscored the devastating impact of this crisis on children. “Every child has the right to a safe and secure childhood—free from the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war. These hidden dangers not only endanger lives but also deprive children of their rights to play, learn, and thrive.”
UNMAS and UNICEF have jointly renewed their call for urgent international attention and sustained support. They emphasized the need to accelerate demining operations, expand risk education programmes across affected regions, and fortify protective systems to shield children from further harm.
This renewed commitment includes close cooperation with the Government of Iraq to enhance the scale and reach of mine action activities, with the goal of transforming contaminated land into safe spaces for returnees and rebuilding efforts.
As Iraq moves forward from its conflict-ridden past, mine action is proving not just a technical necessity, but a humanitarian imperative. Ensuring that every child can grow up without the fear of buried explosives is not only a moral obligation, say UN officials, but a foundational step toward a peaceful and prosperous future for the country.
