News & Analysis
Report, Mines Advisory Group, Aug 16, 2007
High in the mountains of northern Iraq a deadly legacy of the Iran/Iraq war hides amongst the wild flowers and long grass, ready to strike any unsuspecting victim. The spiky crowns of the deadly Valmara land mines are hard to see, but the slightest movement of one of the sensitive spikes could result in death for any person or animal within 30 meters. The first explosion would propel the main body of the mine 40 cm into the air. A millisecond later the main explosion would blast shrapnel at ballistic speeds in a 360 degree radius.
All this is not far from Salahadin's mind as he carefully inserts a clip between the crown and the main body of the mine. He then unscrews the top and tips out the two detonators. "I have defused hundreds of these but every time you must be very careful," he says. "I always feel elated afterwards. That could be another life saved! These mines are deadly and there are millions of them across this region. Usually they are planted only a meter apart."
Since the early nineties MAG has cleared seven of the thirteen mined areas in and around Darband village. The teams have not been working here all the time; they cleared the initial high priorities before returning recently as population growth and the need for more agricultural land and irrigation channels made previously 'low' priority areas high priority. Abdullah Khan the village Mayor explains: "We first returned here in late 1991 and found our village destroyed and the ground covered in mines. We tried to start our lives again but nearly 70 people have been killed or injured by mines and we have lost hundreds of animals. It was like living a prison. We cleared small areas ourselves to build houses but that's it. Most people didn't come home. They stayed in the collective towns. When MAG came here we could start our lives again. Originally 30 families came back. Now there are 84. We are very grateful to MAG. They are true liberators." He pauses, indicating all the houses and fruit-ladened trees nearby. "This is all possible because of what MAG has done. Otherwise it would all be barren. We have to have animals to survive. We can grow food and we access trees for firewood."
The village now grows barley, wheat, lentils, chickpeas, cucumbers and fruit all on safe land. They also have sheep, goats, chickens and cows. Roads and paths have been opened up connecting other villages allowing travel and trade. "It is great that MAG has come back to help us. We need more water for our crops - we need to finish our canal but the area nearby is still mined. Two people were killed trying to get water. The first priority is our children. We are always scared that they might go into the minefield. Also, we have to watch our animals closely to make sure they don't get blown up. The population has increased and the pressures on us are growing. There are still five minefields here. If MAG can clear them all, we'll have more animals and grow more food. Our village will prosper."
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Page last updated: Aug 16, 2007 - 7:45:50 AM
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