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FROM THE FIELD

MAG Iraq - January report
17 Feb 2009 11:54:00 GMT
 Source: MAG (Mines Advisory Group)
Website: Website: http://www.maginternational.org/iraq

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MAG medics participating in refresher training conducted by paramedics from Canada-based Global Medic.
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MAG medics participating in refresher training conducted by paramedics from Canada-based Global Medic.
MAG Iraq

Background

•  Iraq in turmoil

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SUMMARY OF JANUARY'S ACTIVITIES AND OUTPUTS:

The programme continued to reduce risk to vulnerable communities and support conflict recovery and rehabilitation by implementing Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA), Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) and Small Arms Light Weapons (SALW) projects in Dahuk, Diyala, Erbil, Kirkuk, Ninewah, and Sulimaniyah governorates.

- MAG teams searched and cleared 132,994 square metres of land using hand, electronic, and visual techniques safely removing and destroying 887 hazardous items.

- Mine Risk Education (MRE) teams delivered 139 MRE sessions reaching 2,983 individuals in 89 villages Erbil, Dahuk and Sulimaniyah governorates.

- Community Liaison (CL) teams identified 71 dangerous areas in 42 different villages.

- Eight SALW emergency teams deployed 71 times to complete 317 tasks during January, destroying 1,822 items of SALW.

- Mechanical assets were used to clear and prepare 80 sq/m of land and processed 1,576 cubic metres of soil.

OPERATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS:

Operations resumed in mid-January after the annual winter holiday and technical refresher training.

Refresher training for medics also took place in January led by paramedics from Canada-based Global Medic. MAG medics were trained in the most up-to-date trauma techniques at the Chamchamal operations base.

Training for two local NGOs was conducted to build national capacity in delivering MRE in central Iraq.

Preparations were completed to start Peshmerga training project. MAG's Training, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (TMEU) will train and develop Iraq's national capacity by establishing a sustainable humanitarian Conventional Weapon (CW) section within the Peshmerga to undertake humanitarian CW clearance operations in Erbil governorate of Iraq.

In partnership with Marshall Legacy Institute, MAG continued to deploy three Mine Detection Dogs with a dedicated clearance team to conduct clearance and verification of medium and low risk areas at a task in Kirkuk governorate during January. Operations are ongoing at this task.

DEMINING & CLEARANCE OPERATIONS:

Diyana sector: Mine Action Teams (MATs) searched and cleared 5,836 sq/m of contaminated land, destroying a total of 557 hazardous items. MAG's teams in Diyana continued working on four ongoing tasks in support of socio-economic ehabilitation, agricultural development and infrastructure development in Choman, Peran and Sidakan sub districts in Erbil governorate.

Dahuk sector: MATs searched and cleared 91,007 sq/m of contaminated land, removing and destroying 43 hazardous items. Operations continued working on three prioritised tasks in support of conflict recovery, IDP resettlement and socio-economic development in Rzgari and Batel sub districts.

Chamchamal sector: MATs searched and cleared 22,135 sq/m of contaminated land. Teams removed and destroyed 230 hazardous items. Operations continued working on six ongoing tasks in support of conflict recovery, agricultural and development. Clearance operations in one prioritised task were completed in support of agricultural development in Qara Hanjir, Shwan, Laylan and Daquq sub districts.

Sulimaniyah sector: MATs searched and cleared 14,016 sq/m of contaminated land. Teams removed and destroyed 57 hazardous items. MATs continued working on six tasks in support of agricultural development, socio-economic rehabilitation and tourism development in Sharbazher and Dokan districts.

Mechanical assets: Teams deployed across northern Iraq to support MATs and improve the efficiency of operations. Three armoured wheeled shovels and two sifters were used to clear 80 sq/m of land and excavate 1,200 cubic metres and sift 376 cubic metres of contaminated soil.

SMALL ARMS LIGHT WEAPONS (SALW) EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

- Four dedicated CL teams deployed from Dahuk, Diyana, Sulimaniyah and Chamchamal sectors to identify and prioritise instances of SALW contamination for removal and destruction.

- CL teams continued the SALW awareness project, which aims to warn children and other vulnerable groups about the dangers of SALW. A children's activity book, as well as posters and leaflets, were specially designed to support the project. Teams conducted nine awareness sessions and distributed 292 booklets and stickers.

- Eight SALW emergency teams deployed 71 times supporting regional security and conflict recovery during January completing 317 tasks.

- Teams destroyed 1,822 items of SALW in January, with over 91,890 items now destroyed as part of the SALW project.

COMMUNITY LIAISON (CL):

- Teams identified 71 dangerous areas in 42 villages that pose a threat to resident communities and block socio-economic development.

- Teams in Dahuk met with local authority and Public Relations Office within the governor's office to discuss IDPs issues and how MAG Iraq programme can support IDP resettlement through clearing CW contaminated areas.

- Teams in Chamchamal met with the educational department in Kirkuk governorate discussing MRE for primary schools programme.

MINE RISK EDUCATION (MRE):

- MRE teams delivered 139 MRE sessions in 89 villages reaching 2,983 vulnerable individuals in Erbil, Sulimaniyah and Dahuk governorates. 150 MRE posters were distributed during the month of January to different age groups of students, children and villagers in Erbil, Kirkuk and Sulimaniyah.

- Teams conducted 113 visits to the primary schools in Erbil, Dahuk and Sulimaniyah. Teams visited the schools to follow up the teachers trained during the month of July, August and September 2008. Teams distributed 585 MRE booklets during these visits.

DONORS:

MAG would like to express gratitude to the following donors to the Iraq programme: Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State; Irish Aid; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the Netherlands; Belgian Government; Stichting Vluchteling; Marshall Legacy Institute; Talisman Energy.

To download this report in PDF format or for more information on MAG's programme in Iraq please visit www.maginternational.org/iraq


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Last updated:Tue Feb 17 12:02:40 2009