Mine clearance efforts in Kurdistan Region delayed by security and political challenges

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Kurdistan Region and Iraq were initially expected to be free of landmines and war remnants by 2018, as mandated by the Ottawa Treaty. However, ongoing security, political, and military challenges, particularly the presence of ISIS, have significantly delayed this goal.

Jabar Mustafa, the Head of the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency, informed Kurdistan24 that the deadline for mine clearance has been extended by ten years beyond the original 2018 target. Mustafa highlighted the difficulties faced in clearing these areas, especially in mountainous and border regions where many of the minefields are located.

"Currently, there are still 200 square kilometers of land in the Kurdistan Region that need to be cleared of mines, posing a threat to the residents of these areas," Mustafa stated.

The presence of mines continues to be a major obstacle to the safety and development of the affected regions, and the extended timeline underscores the complexity of the task ahead.