عربي (Arabic)
Baghdad, 26 November 2025 – The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq held the fourth Local Mine Action Support Group (LMASG), hosted and co-chaired by the Australian Embassy, Iraq. The meeting brought together the Directorate for Mine Action (DMA), the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency (IKMAA), and 20 representatives from embassies and partner organizations. The meeting provided a dedicated platform for an open dialogue on mine action priorities, achievements, and challenges.
On this occasion, Mr. John Cavanagh, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Australia, stated, “We are proud of our support for mine action in Iraq and around the world. Australia is steadfast in its commitment to mine action and arms control. We are proud to be a State Party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, and we actively support their universalisation and implementation”.
Representing the UN in Iraq, Mr. Ghulam Isaczai, the Deputy Special Representative of Secretary General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, noted on his opening remarks “Mine action is vital to Iraq’s recovery and sustainable development. Clearing contaminated land and strengthening national capacity saves lives, supports safe returns, and allows communities to rebuild with confidence. As Iraq advances on its development path, resilient, nationally led mine action institutions will be essential. The United Nations remains committed to supporting a coordinated, effective, and accountable mine action sector.”
Since beginning operations in Iraq in 2015, UNMAS, through its implementing partners, has cleared more than 26 million square meters of land, safely removed more than 722,000 explosive devices, and delivered 75,000 explosive ordnance risk education and life-saving messages to approximately 1.5 million people. Despite efforts from mine action partners, recent national data show that more than 2,583 square kilometers remain contaminated with explosive ordnance, continuing to threaten lives and limiting access to land and essential services. As Iraq moves deeper into its development phase and international support evolves, UNMAS is placing a stronger emphasis on nationalizing mine action by reinforcing local national organizations' leadership and capacity. In this context, the Shareteah Humanitarian Organization (SHO), one of Iraq’s leading mine action NGO, presented its growing capability to plan and implement operations.
Ms. Lina Moreno, OiC of the UNMAS Iraq Chief Mine Action Programme, concluded “a coordinated and sustainable national mine action sector is central to Iraq’s successful implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, and to keep people safe from the threats posed by explosive ordnance.”
UNMAS Iraq expresses its sincere gratitude to the Government of Australia for hosting the meeting and for its longstanding support.
Contact
Lina Moreno, OiC Chief Mine Action Programme, UNMAS Iraq lina.morenolegast@un.org