"Iraq has been one of the most contaminated countries in the world in terms of mines and improvised explosive devices for a long time,” Farah Zubir Ali, National Technical Field Manager at MAG explains. “After Daesh came in 2014, the situation became even worse. Huge areas are now being contaminated with improvised explosive devices.”

“MAG’s clearance is more critical than ever now that Daesh has gone from the Ninawa governorate,” Ali adds. “People are returning to contaminated villages where their lives are at risk every day.”

Many demining activities in the Iraqi Kurdistan region are funded by the EUTF and implemented by MAG. Activities also include awareness raising among the local community, as well as refugees and internally displaced Iraqis.

"We visit schools, healthcare centres, villages and any areas at risk," says Rand Ksardar, who is part of the MAG teams that work closely with the community to raise awareness about the risks of mines and other explosive devices that threaten their lives and their livelihoods.

Different teams have different tasks, but all are people risking their lives to help others.

"Personally, I have lost two brothers to demining,” Ali says. “The first one was killed in 2012, when he was working for MAG and there was a mine accident. The second was killed in 2014 when ISIS took over Ninawa, during mine clearance operations in the Ninawa area.”

"Integrated mine action to enhance the resilience of conflict-affected communities in Northern Iraq" is a project led by the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and funded by the EU Trust Fund.

The project improves access to safe land and infrastructures, both in rural and urban areas and raises awareness of landmine threats among people and non-governmental organisations.