Key
developments since May 2000: From 1997 to mid-2001 over 7 million square
meters of land was cleared under the Mine Action Program with over 70 percent of
that land cleared during 2000 and 2001. The MAP spent approximately $20 million
in 2000 and has a budget of about $30 million in 2001. In 2000, the Mines
Advisory Group cleared fourteen minefields, and declared safe 702,111 square
meters of land. Norwegian People’s Aid cleared seven minefields and a
total of 449,778 square meters of land. According to the UN, known UXO and mine
explosions caused an average of 56 casualties per month in 2000 and 31 per month
in 2001.
The region of northern Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan) has
been autonomous from Baghdad since the 1991 Gulf War. Northern Iraq is under
the nominative political leadership of the unified Kurdish Regional Government
(KRG), but in fact the two major Kurdish political parties, the Kurdistan
Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), administer
two separate zones. There is no formal diplomatic recognition of the KRG, the
KDP, or PUK.
As regional, informally recognized entities, neither the KRG
nor the major parties have signed the Mine Ban Treaty. However, the leadership
in northern Iraq has maintained a long-standing opposition to the employment of
landmines due to the debilitating effect they have had in the region. Leaders
of both the KDP and PUK, in similarly worded letters to the UN Secretary
General, have committed to ensuring that the principles and obligations of the
Mine Ban Treaty are realized.[1]
Use
While there is credible evidence that landmines
were used in northern Iraq during past periods of factional fighting, no
evidence was found of any recent antipersonnel mine use by the KDP, PKK or PUK.
A mine clearance NGO active in northern Iraq told Landmine Monitor that they
have not received any reports of new antipersonnel mine use in the
region.[2]
In early April
2001, seven civilians were killed and two injured by an antivehicle mine laid on
a road in Barwari district. A Kurdistan Democratic Party official told media,
“According to security experts who have gone to the scene, the first
indication is that the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] was responsible for
laying the mine.... The road where the landmine was laid had been used regularly
in recent weeks, indicating the mine was laid recently.”[3]
Landmine Problem
While northern Iraq’s mine and unexploded
ordnance (UXO) problem dates as far back as the end of World War Two, mines were
not heavily used until the 1960s and 1970s as the central government attempted
to subdue Kurdish groups operating in rural areas. During the 1980-1988
Iran-Iraq War, the north was mined to both counter Iranian advances and to
control movements of Kurdish forces.
Mines Advisory Group (MAG) has
conducted an in-country survey and community-based data gathering, and
established a database, called the Data Coordination Unit (DCU), which holds
records of more than 3,770 minefield reconnaissance/surveys for the most heavily
mine- and UXO-contaminated
areas.[4] According to the DCU,
there are 2,245 minefields and 760 mined villages in the three northern
governorates which comprise northern Iraq: Dohuk, Erbil and
Suleymaniyah.[5]
Other
surveys report similar findings according to the United Nations Office for
Project Services (UNOPS); mines are believed to cover over 923 square kilometers
directly affecting 1,100
villages.[6] Mines are also
emplaced along the borders with Iran, Syria, and
Turkey.[7]
No Iraqi records
of minefields are available to the Mine Action Program (MAP) in northern Iraq.
MAP reports a total of more than 3,200 mined areas in the
region,[8] with the greatest
concentration of mines along the Iran-Iraq border, specifically in the districts
of Penjwin, Sharbazher and
Qaladiza.[9] Other mined areas
include former Iraqi military installations, destroyed villages,
grazing/agricultural areas, and
roads.[10] However, the primary
impact of landmines in northern Iraq is upon villages, on smallholdings and
subsistence farming and grazing, and areas de-populated during Anfal. Due to
water shortages, access to new and safe water sources such as springs is also a
significant problem.[11]
Mine Action Coordination and Funding
No changes were noted in the coordination
structures or roster of international and indigenous organizations engaged in
humanitarian mine action activities in northern
Iraq.[12]
Mine Action
Program (MAP).[13]
Since 1997, UNOPS has managed the northern Iraq Mine Action Program (MAP), under
the jurisdiction of the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq
(UNOHCI). MAP is entirely funded by the 13 percent and 2.2 percent accounts for
the Oil for Food Program under UN Security Council Resolution 986. The MAP
expended approximately $20 million in 2000, and its budget for 2001 is about $30
million. The primary contractors supporting MAP are a commercial European
company, European Landmine Solutions (ELS), and Mechem, a commercial South
African company. ELS recruits, trains and deploys survey and demining teams and
manages a program of over 1,500 local and 24 international staff members while
Mechem provides mine detecting dogs, and currently employs 32 international dogs
and 16 international handlers as well as 32 national dogs and 32 national
handlers. From 1997 to 2001 under the MAP, over 7 million square meters of land
was cleared with over 70 percent of that land cleared during 2000 and 2001. As
of July 2001, clearance teams working under the MAP have destroyed a total of
over 7,000 antitank and antipersonnel mines and 22,000 UXO.
Mines
Advisory Group
(MAG).[14] Since 1993,
MAG has conducted mine clearance operations while seeking to increase the skills
and abilities of its local staff in planning, management, and implementation.
MAG’s number of expatriate staff declined from 14 in 1995 to three in
2001, while the number of locally trained deminers increased from less than 200
to more than 350 over the same period.
In 2000, MAG cleared fourteen
minefields and 702,111 square meters of land was declared safe. In 2000, 2,219
mines and 417 UXO destroyed.[15]
In the first half of 2001, three minefields were cleared by MAG, 218,265 square
meters of land was declared safe and 739 mines and 309 UXO
destroyed.[16] From 1993 to 30
June 2001, MAG cleared 169 minefields, declared safe 4.5 million square meters
of land and destroyed 42,421 mines and 11,234
UXO.[17]
Like many other
NGOs, MAG is unable to access funding under Resolution 986 and relies on donors
including Anti-Landmijn Stichting, the Netherlands (through Stichting
Vluchteling), Sweden (through Sida), the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society,
Rädda Barnen, and the UK (through DFID).
Norwegian People’s
Aid (NPA).[18] In 1999,
NPA’s mine clearance operation consisted of one EOD team and two demining
teams. In 2000, the EOD capacity was integrated with the demining team in order
to concentrate more on mine clearance. In addition, two other demining teams
became operational so that four clearance tasks could be undertaken in four
minefields at the same time. NPA operates in the sub-district of Mawat, in
Sharbazher district in the Governorate of Suleimaniya. In 2000, seven
minefields were cleared and handed over to the local population. Of these seven
minefields, three were arable land while the rest were pastoral land. A total
of 449,778 square meters of land were made available to the local population.
NPA plans to have a fully nationalized program by the second quarter of 2001;
the program currently includes three national supervisors. In 2000, NPA received
a total of NOK 4,776,757 ($514,000) for its mine action activities in northern
Iraq.
Mine Awareness Education
From 1993 to 30 June 2001, MAG mine awareness
teams visited 4,796 villages and 2,796 schools and other institutes to conduct
mine awareness education, including 576 village visits and 220 schools and other
institutes in 2000.[19] In
1998, MAG has started to work with the Ministries of Education and Endowments
and Religious Affairs to prepare a teaching curriculum on mine awareness
education and to provide teachers with the necessary skills, knowledge, and
materials to deliver the curriculum. Between 1993 to 30 June 2001, it trained
2,258 teachers and 474 school supervisors, including 202 supervisors in
2000.[20] With the support of
Reuters Foundation and UNICEF, MAG printed and distributed 127,200 mine
awareness handbooks for use by primary school children in Grades two to
five.[21] MAG also uses the
village mosque and the mullah as a respected method of delivering mine awareness
messages. Between 1998 and June 2001 mine awareness teams visited 898 mosques
and 533 religious schools and trained 311 village-based mullahs and instructors
from the region’s Imamat and Khatabat institutes (religious training
institutions) and Kurdistan Mullahs’
Union.[22] It prepared and
printed a mine awareness curriculum document and guide, which includes messages
from the Holy Koran and is now taught in religious schools across the
region.[23]
MAP funds local
mine awareness activities by supporting two local
NGOs.[24] The Kurdistan
Organisation for Mine Awareness (KOMA) in Erbil/Dohuk and Kurdistan Organisation
for Mine Awareness in Suleimaniya are two separate and independent bodies
covering the three governates. KOMA Erbil/Dohuk was established in October 2000
and consists of 8 five-person teams, plus two supervisors. Its main activities
have consisted of visits to villages with a high presence of mines and large
number of casualties. The Kurdistan Organisation for Mine Awareness,
Suleimaniya started in May 2001 and 46 persons are currently being trained as
instructors and supervisors.
Landmine Casualties and Assistance
According to the UN, known UXO and mine explosions
caused an average of 56 casualties per month in 2000 and 31 per month in
2001.[25] Adult men comprise
more than 70% of all recorded landmine/UXO accident
victims.[26]
The UNOPS
Victim Assistance Program is fully integrated into the MAP and provides a
comprehensive system of services to war
victims.[27] Community
re-integration, socio-economic rehabilitation and psycho-social supports are
being enhanced in 2001. Four orthopedic limb centers, six orthopedic outreach
centers, three rehabilitation centers, two emergency surgical hospitals, and 16
first-aid posts receive funding under the
MAP.[28] The prosthetic and
surgical centers are considered to be sufficient to meet the needs of survivors.
In 2000, 1,235 prostheses were provided, of which approximately 600 were for
landmine amputees. The UNOPS Victim Assistance Program assists 5,000 to 6,000
patients each year at an annual cost of around $2.5 million. Approximately 800
national staff were employed in all funded programs.
Handicap International
Belgium (HI-B) provides orthopedic support to disabled persons, including mine
victims, in Suleimaniya and
Halabja.[29] In 2000, the two
centers produced 412 pairs of crutches, 539 prostheses, and repaired 1,222
orthopedic devices. In addition, physiotherapy services provided 1,409 general
consultations and 1,052 treatments in relation to devices. HI-B also operates a
mobile team composed of a technician, a physiotherapist and a social worker,
which is able to reach isolated villages to ensure adequate follow-up. In 2000,
the mobile team assisted 376 patients. HI-B employs 45 national staff.
The
Norwegian Red Cross finances the ICRC prosthetic/orthotic center in the city of
Erbil. An average of 60 amputees are fitted each month. From 2001, services
are also provided in the city of
Mosul.[30]
The Ministry of
Public Health in Suleimaniya, the Rozh Society for Disabled People, the Helena
Center, and the Handicapped Union (local NGOs) are also engaged in
rehabilitation of the disabled in the region.
[1] Letter from Masoud
Barzani, President of the KDP, dated 3 October 1999 and letter from Jalal
Talabani, PUK General Secretary, dated 26 January
2000.
[2] Telephone interview
with Tim Carstairs, Director of Communications, Mines Advisory Group, July
2001.
[3] Claudia Parsons,
“Seven Iraqi Kurds killed in landmine explosion,” Reuters
(Ankara), 5 April 2001.
[4]
Mines Advisory Group, “The Mines Problem in Northern Iraq,” May
2001, p. 1; Northern Iraq Data Coordination Unit of Mines Advisory Group,
“Activities Summary 1 January 1993 to 30 June 2001.” Attachment to
Email to Landmine Monitor (HRW) from Tim Carstairs, Director of Communications,
Mines Advisory Group, 17 July
2001.
[5] Northern Iraq Data
Coordination Unit of Mines Advisory Group, “Activities Summary 1 January
1993 to 30 June 2001.” Attachment to Email to Landmine Monitor (HRW) from
Tim Carstairs, Director of Communications, Mines Advisory Group, 17 July
2001.
[6] UN Portfolio of
Mine-related Projects, April 2001, p.
144.
[7] Norwegian
People’s Aid, “Annual Report 2000,” p.
1-12.
[8] UNOPS,
“Executive Summary, UNOPS Mine Action Program in Northern Iraq,”
June 2000.
[9] Norwegian
People's Aid, “Mine Action Proposal 2000,” p.
7.
[10]
Ibid.
[11] This shortage has
been getting worse over several years of less than usual winter snows, and is
now quite serious. A similar situation is in Cunene, southern Angola where
drought forces people into dangerous areas. Email to Landmine Monitor (HRW)
from Tim Carstairs, Director of Communications, Mines Advisory Group, 17 July
2001.
[12] For details see
Landmine Monitor Report 2000, pp.
967-968.
[13] The information
in this section on the MAP was provided in email to Landmine Monitor (HRW) from
Charles Downs, Division Chief, Mine Action Unit, UNOPS, 20 July
2001.
[14] The information in
this section on MAG was provided in email to Landmine Monitor (HRW) from Tim
Carstairs, Director of Communications, Mines Advisory Group, 17 July
2001.
[15] The area declared
safe includes 434,087 square meters of cleared land and 268,024 square meters of
reduced area. Northern Iraq Data Coordination Unit of Mines Advisory Group,
“Activities Summary 1 January 1993 to 30 June
2001.”
[16] The period
is from 1 January to 30 June 2001. The area declared safe includes 130,695
square meters of cleared land and 87,570 square meters of reduced area.
Northern Iraq Data Coordination Unit of Mines Advisory Group, “Activities
Summary 1 January 1993 to 30 June
2001.”
[17] The
4,460,968 square meter area of land declared safe includes 3,365,425 square
meters of cleared land and 1,095,543 square meters of reduced area. Northern
Iraq Data Coordination Unit of Mines Advisory Group, “Activities Summary 1
January 1993 to 30 June
2001.”
[18] Email to
Landmine Monitor (HRW) from Janecke Wille, Norwegian People’s Aid, 27 July
2001.
[19] Northern Iraq Data
Coordination Unit of Mines Advisory Group, “Activities Summary 1 January
1993 to 30 June 2001.” Attachment to Email to Landmine Monitor (HRW) from
Tim Carstairs, Director of Communications, Mines Advisory Group, 17 July
2001.
[20] The 2,258 school
and institute teachers trained includes 919 teacher trainings and 1,339
follow-up teacher trainings. Northern Iraq Data Coordination Unit of Mines
Advisory Group, “Activities Summary 1 January 1993 to 30 June 2001.”
Attachment to Email to Landmine Monitor (HRW) from Tim Carstairs, Director of
Communications, Mines Advisory Group, 17 July
2001.
[21] Mines Advisory
Group, “The Mines Problem in Northern Iraq,” May 2001, p
6.
[22] The 311 village-based
mullahs and instructors trained includes five Imamat and Khatabat trainings, 267
commune trainings and 39 religious representative workshops. Northern Iraq Data
Coordination Unit of Mines Advisory Group, “Activities Summary 1 January
1993 to 30 June 2001.” Attachment to Email to Landmine Monitor (HRW) from
Tim Carstairs, Director of Communications, Mines Advisory Group, 17 July
2001.
[23] Mines Advisory
Group, “The Mines Problem in Northern Iraq,” May 2001, p.
6.
[24] The information in
this section on the MAP was provided in email to Landmine Monitor (HRW) from
Charles Downs, Division Chief, Mine Action Unit, UNOPS, 20 July
2001.
[25] UN Portfolio of
Mine-related Projects, April 2001, p. 144; Email to Landmine Monitor (HRW) from
Charles Downs, Division Chief, Mine Action Unit, UNOPS, 20 July
2001.
[26] Mines Advisory
Group, “The Mines Problem in Northern Iraq,” May 2001, p.
6.
[27] Email to Landmine
Monitor (HI-B) from Judith Dunne, Victims Support Manager, UNOPS – Erbil,
Northern Iraq, 23 July 2001.
[28] UN Portfolio of
Mine-related Projects, April 2001, p.
143.
[29]Handicap
International Belgium Activity Report 2000, p.
19.
[30]ICRC activities
on behalf of Iraqi citizens 2000-2001, ICRC, 11 June 2001.
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