Belgium has renewed its financial support to United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) operations in Iraq, reinforcing joint efforts with Iraqi authorities to protect civilians from explosive ordnance and enable safe access to land and essential services.
Full statement from UNMAS:
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) expresses its sincere appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its renewed financial support to UNMAS in Iraq. This contribution strengthens joint efforts with the Government of Iraq and partners to safeguard civilians from explosive ordnance (EO) and to ensure safe and sustained access to land and essential services for communities affected by the legacy of conflict.
Iraq remains among the most heavily affected countries by EO, with humanitarian consequences that place women, men, girls and boys at continued risk and limit access to agriculturaZ1`l land and essential infrastructure. An estimated of 2,583 square kilometers of land are still suspected to be contaminated after more than forty years of successive conflicts.
