The Basra Human Rights Office has called on the local government to implement key recommendations from the Landmine and War Remnants Victims Committee, urging immediate action to address the “growing threat” of unexploded ordnance, an official said on Tuesday. Mahdi Al-Tamimi, the Office’s director, told Shafaq News that the Basra Provincial Council must activate the committee’s recommendations, which include holding urgent meetings with relevant authorities to resolve the longstanding issue. The recommendations emphasize the need to support mine clearance centers in Basra, especially in light of the recent escalation in incidents and the rising number of casualties from multiple explosions in the province, Al-Tamimi said, stressing that the issue requires “serious commitment from the Iraqi government and greater cooperation to clear minefields and war remnants.”

Basra is heavily reliant on international organizations and countries such as Britain, Norway, Germany, and China. However, Al-Tamimi highlighted the need for “stricter oversight” of international demining organizations, citing concerns over their effectiveness. According to Al-Tamimi, US President Donald Trump’s decision to halt US funding for these programs would also affect the procedure. The Iraqi government must step in and fully take over this file to protect civilians, especially given the alarming rise in injuries and fatalities in Basra, he said. Basra has faced persistent dangers from landmines and war remnants dating back to the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf Wars, posing a severe risk to civilians. This month alone, two landmine explosions killed and injured seven people, most of them children, highlighting the urgent need for demining efforts.

Iraq is among the world's most landmine-contaminated countries due to decades of wars and conflicts, a human rights official said on Saturday. Head of the Strategic Center for Human Rights in Iraq, Fadel Al-Gharawi, stated in a press release that more than 6,600 square kilometers of Iraqi land have been identified as mine-contaminated since 2003. He revealed, “While over 4,540 square kilometers have been cleared as of 2024, more than 2,000 square kilometers still require demining, Basra is the most affected province, with approximately 1,200 square kilometers of contaminated land, followed by Muthanna and Diyala.” Calling for prioritizing demining efforts in Basra, providing compensation for victims, and raising public awareness about the dangers of landmines, Al-Gharawi urged the Iraqi government and international organizations to launch a large-scale demining campaign, stressing the need for Iraq to be declared mine-free by the end of 2025.

Official statistics indicate that more than 30,000 Iraqis have been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance since 2003, including women and children. In 2022 alone, more than 150 people were killed or wounded by landmines across Iraq, while the Kurdistan Region recorded 13,500 victims. On Friday, three children were killed instantly when a landmine detonated while they were playing football in the Abu Al-Khasib district of southern Basra. Another explosion occurred last Saturday, killing two children and two young men. The humanitarian situation in Basra is dire, and immediate action is needed to prevent further casualties. The international community must provide support to the Iraqi government to clear minefields and war remnants, and to provide assistance to victims of landmines.

In a related development, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Iraq, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and local partners, launched a new series of equipment distribution ceremonies for dairy value chain development to support rural women in southern Iraq. The project aims to empower 3,580 rural women in the dairy sector in the three governorates of Maysan, Dhi Qar, and Basra. The women will use the equipment to transport and store approximately 160,000 liters of milk per day, contributing to achieving significant development in improving the quality of milk and dairy products, increasing production, and economically empowering rural women. This initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance food security efforts in Iraq, and to improve the economic conditions in rural communities. The FAO-EU-funded project entitled “Restoration and Strengthening the Resilience of Agri-food Systems in Southern Iraq” is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and local partners, and aims to support smallholder farmers and communities in adapting to climate challenges while improving agricultural productivity and livelihoods.