BAGHDAD, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Tuesday said Denmark has offered an additional contribution of about 11 million U.S. dollars to help the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to demine areas liberated from Islamic State (IS) across Iraq.
The latest grant from Denmark brings its total contributions to approximately 26 million dollars and is essential to "mitigate the threat posed by explosive hazards and enable stabilization efforts in liberated areas of Iraq," a statement by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said.
"The scale, scope, and complexity of explosive hazard contamination in liberated areas is substantial, and far exceeds the existing national resources to clear them," the statement said.
It said the contribution will enable UNMAS to create safe conditions for a voluntary and dignified return of displaced people, through explosive hazard management, risk education and initiatives to boost the capabilities of the Iraqi government.
"Explosive hazards are found everywhere: in infrastructure, schools, hospitals, homes and under bridges. They are mixed with the rubble, and are found in rural and urban areas, sometimes visible, but often hidden, waiting for potential victims," the statement quoted Pehr Lodhammar, senior program manager of UNMAS in Iraq, as saying.
With the support of the Iraqi government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UNMAS has so far cleared over 1,400 critical infrastructure sites from explosives, such as bridges, water treatment and power plants, as well as hospitals and schools, it added.
IS militants have planted thousands of landmines in areas they once seized. Despite the efforts of the Iraqi security forces, many liberated areas still require exerting more effort to clear the landmines to guarantee safe return for displaced people to their homes.
The security situation in Iraq has been dramatically improved after Iraqi security forces fully defeated the extremist IS militants across the country in late 2017.
