Kurdistan Iraq - 6 Children Killed by Mines Last Month Alone : Kurdistan24/ Middle East Monitor / Paula Claycomb

The two articles below are difficult for me to absorb even though I know that “indiscriminate weapons” continue to injure and kill children in many of today’s conflicts. These include anti-personnel landmines, improvised explosive devices and unexploded cluster munitions (these wicked bomblets are being used by Russia in Ukraine, at least in Kharkiv, according to Human Rights Watch). 

Since the 1990s, UNICEF has worked with other UN agencies and NGOs to prevent child injury and death by providing technical guidance and programming on risk education. UNICEF also provides assistance to child survivors of mine incidents, through provision of artificial limbs, mental and emotional support, and access to education. Children are particularly prone to picking up these terrible weapons, thinking they are toys or for the re-sale value of the metal. The term “EWIPA” is perhaps not familiar to most of us, but it is also part of what UNICEF does: Calling upon governments to avoid the use of “explosive weapons in populated areas”. My heart aches for the children, adolescents and families who are affected by these evil weapons.

Paula

See also Iraq's Killing Fields - the Lethal Legacy of Landmines - in pictures : The Guardian

6 children killed by mines in February: UNICEF

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A total of six Iraqi children, all boys, have lost their lives due to explosive remnants of war (ERW) in February, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a statement on Monday.

Moreover, UNICEF said explosive remnants had maimed ten children (nine boys, one girl).

"ERWs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) remain one of the leading causes of killing and maiming of children in Iraq, with boys particularly affected," UNICEF said.

UNICEF said it's alarmed by the high number of children affected by explosive remnants, such as mines, and urged "all stakeholders to accelerate efforts to clear existing mines and unexploded ordnance, expand risk education, and promote victim assistance."

"Combined, this upholds children's right to a safe and protective environment."

Read More: 5 brothers on mission to educate rural communities about threat of landmines in Kurdistan Region

Spokesperson of UNICEF in Iraq Miguel Mateos Muñoz told Kurdistan 24 that in January three children (two girls and a boy) were killed by explosive remnants in January adn another two (a boy and a girl) were maimed.

"This February has been the month with the highest number of victims since July 2021 (since 2021, only January and July 2021 had a higher number than February 2022), and every month we continue to see how children get killed or maimed as a result of explosive remnants of war," he told Kurdistan 24. "This needs to stop."

"The number of children affected by explosive remnants of war continues to be one of the main reasons of children are killed and maimed in Iraq," he said.

"Therefore, enhanced advocacy is needed to raise awareness on the importance of educating children and families in affected communities and urge all parties to accelerate every effort to clear existing mines and unexploded ordnance, promote victim assistance, and uphold children’s right to a safe and protective environment."

UNICEF said it will continue its work with partners, including the Directorate of Mine Action within the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency, to "raise awareness and increase safety for children, their families and communities in highly contaminated areas."

Iraq is probably the most mined place on earth due to all the wars that have taken place there over the past four decades.

Read More: Landmines don't expire: the deadly legacy of war weapons in Kurdistan

UNICEF warns of impact of unexploded munitions on Iraqi children

March 15, 2022 at 11:56 am | Published in: International Organisations, Iraq, Middle East, News, UN


The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has expressed grave concern about the impact of unexploded munitions on children in Iraq.

"February has been one of the most dangerous months for children in Iraq in recent times," said the UN agency. "Six boys have lost their lives, and another nine, as well as one girl, have been maimed by explosive remnants of war."

Unexploded munitions and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) remain one of the leading causes of killing and maiming of children in Iraq, confirmed UNICEF. "Boys in particular are affected."

The agency said that it was alarmed by the high number of children affected by such munitions and urged all stakeholders to accelerate efforts to clear existing mines and unexploded ordnance, expand risk education and promote victim assistance. Combined, this upholds children's right to a safe and protective environment.

UNICEF noted that it continues to work with partners including the Directorate of Mine Action within the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency to raise awareness and increase safety for children, their families and communities in highly contaminated areas.