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MAG established operations in Iraq in 1992, and has worked continuously since that time to remove the threat from landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and abandoned weapons that remain from decades of protracted and intense conflict. These remnants of conflict present a major risk to civilian life and inhibit the reconstruction and development of communities. In addition, uncontrolled stockpiles of explosives and weapons are easily accessible to insurgent groups, thereby fueling the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and further exacerbating the long-term effects of conflict. MAG addresses this threat through the deployment of clearance teams consisting of highly-trained Iraqi staff.
To reduce the risk from mines and UXO, MAG employs a range of solutions:
- Community Liaison teams work closely with communities and partners to ensure that our work is responding to the most urgent needs of those in danger and for the benefit of the communities' socio-economic development.
- Manual clearance teams and mechanical assets are deployed to clear land that is needed for agriculture, infrastructure, and the movement of displaced populations.
- Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams provide an emergency response to remove and destroy dangerous items that are reported by communities and local authorities.
- Mobile Small Arms Light Weapons (SALW) destruction teams respond to unsecured stockpiles of weapons and UXO.
- Mine Risk Education (MRE) is used when appropriate to reduce the threat from mines and UXO to affected people.
MAG has cleared close to 2 million landmines and items of UXO, released several million meters of safe land, and made a significant difference to the lives of people recovering from conflict.
"I saw a strange thing and I was trying to find out what it was and the next thing I know was that I'm in the hospital...."
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Ten year old Mustafa tells the story of the small arms contamination that claimed the life of one villager and left three injured, including himself, in a village near Kirkuk. After the accident, MAG immediately deployed teams to remove dangerous explosives from the village. In total MAG destroyed 238 hazardous items, and reduced the threat of death and injury to over 300 individuals living in the village. |