Images from MAG's programme in Iraq
The first ministerial delegation of Belgian officials to visit Iraq since 1991 went to MAG’s flagship Iraq progamme on Thursday.
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A MAG Community Liaison employee, wearing a Belgian Government t-shirt, educating Iraqi children about the risks of landmines and unexploded ordnance. [Photos: MAG Iraq] |
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Karel de Gucht, who is also Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister, met MAG Iraq’s Country Programme Manager and some of the programme's national staff at their headquarters in Erbil.
The Belgian government has donated over £1.3m to MAG’s Iraq programme since 2005, directly improving the lives of over 25,000 people.
The funding paid for MAG to clear nearly seven million square metres of landmines: about 38 minefields and former battle areas.
MAG Iraq’s technical experts have also been able to destroy over 16,000 dangerous and volatile weapons from 19 different stockpiles.
Country Programme Manager Chris Loughran said: "It was an honour to host Minister De Gucht and Mr Falah at MAG's offices in Erbil. Belgian support has been central to MAG's operations in Iraq, saving lives and supporting conflict recovery in one of the most mine-contaminated areas of the world."
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A Belgian government-funded Mine Action Team that works in Diyala, Erbil governorate. |
Falah Mustafa Bakir, the head of the Kurdish Regional Government’s (KRG) Department for Foreign Relations also took part in the visit.
MAG has had teams working in Iraq since 1992, and works closely with local authorities to maximise the impact of the life-saving work being done in Erbil.
Chris said: “We look forward to continuing our close relationship with the Belgian government and the KRG so that MAG can continue to save lives and support socio-economic development in Iraq."
Your donation to MAG helps us to move into current and former conflict zones to clear the remnants of those conflicts, enabling recovery and assisting the development of affected populations.
Images from MAG's programme in Iraq:
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR. Photos: Sean Sutton / MAG.
29 May 09
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