ŞÎNYAR BAYÎZ

Sulaymaniyah – Every year, thousands of people are killed or become disabled due to landmines. In 2020, at least 7,073 casualties of landmines and explosive remnants of war were recorded: 2,492 people were killed and 4,561 people were injured, while the survival status was unknown for 20 casualties, according to the 2021 Landmine Monitor report.

When the Federal Kurdistan Region was under the rule of the Baathist regime, landmines were placed along the Syrian border. These landmines continue to kill or injure civilians every day. In the region, there isn’t serious work to clear the landmines. And this still poses a threat to the lives of civilians and animals in the border areas.

19 people were killed by landmines in 2021

In 2021, the members of Mine Action Management visited 43 villages. In 2021, 42 landmine explosions were recorded; 19 civilians were killed and 23 civilians were injured in the explosions, according to the data of the management. According to the same data, an area of 601,151 meters was cleared of landmines and explosive remnants of war. Gulan Kemal, the manager of Mine Action Management in Sulaymaniyah, spoke to JINHA about the casualties of landmines and landmine clearance work in the region.

New landmines are placed

Stating that their duty is to clear landmines, Gulan Kemal said, “We have a warning section. The section warns citizens where the landmines are placed. We help the families of those who were killed by landmines and those who become disabled due to landmines.” Pointing out that although they try to clear the region of landmines, new landmines are placed in the region, Gulan Kemal said, “Now, the invaders place landmines in the Kurdistan region. These landmines claim many victims every day. Most landmines are placed near the border villages and districts. For this reason, the clearing of landmines is very difficult. We do our best to warn the citizens against the landmines. We have held seminars at schools to raise awareness of the students. We warn the citizens through theatre, photographs, and notices.”

“They collect landmines to sell”

Stating that many people are killed by landmines due to the economic crisis, Gulan Kemal said, “The citizens living in the border areas collect landmines to sell them. They are killed by landmines while trying to make a living.”