Italy supports UNMAS in Iraq
Clearance operation of a land mine. Photo: UNMAS
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) issued a statement on Wednesday welcoming a contribution of one million euros (approximately 999,500 USD) from the Italian government to support life-saving mine action activities in Iraq.
Activities will include delivering sustainable and efficient explosive hazard management and providing technical and advisory support to national mine action authorities, according to the statement.
Iraq suffers from various types of contamination due to decades of war and conflicts that is now threatening the lives and safety of Iraqi communities, the statement explained.
The financial contribution from Italy will support the clearance of explosive ordnance in the areas liberated from ISIS and in southern Iraq, the statement mentioned.
The contribution will also support explosive ordnance risk education efforts to protect the most at-risk populations, notably the returnees and internally displaced people, as well as delivering explosive ordnance risk education/sessions for at-risk workers who undertake high-risk activities, the statement elaborated.
The generous contribution will support a nationally led and implemented mine action response. UNMAS provides training and technical advice to national authorities to further enhance the Iraqi national clearance capacity in line with national and international mine action standards, the statement clarified.
Furthermore, Italy’s contribution supports the Iraqi government in strengthening coordination between government entities and supports mine action decision-making across the country, the statement added.