Mad:The Mine Action Directorate has confirmed that its clearance operations prioritize residential and populated areas, along with zones near population centers. The Directorate has also detailed a mechanism for handling lands designated for investment and economic projects, particularly those related to oil exploration.

According to Iraqi News Agency, Ihsan Jaafar, Director General of the Mine Action Directorate, stated that the Directorate distinguishes between lands within cities and populated areas and those of a commercial or economic nature, based on their intended use and significance.

Jaafar highlighted that humanitarian efforts focus on securing cities and populated areas to ensure the safety of citizens and provide a secure environment for daily activities. This prioritization is due to the connection between citizens’ lives and these areas.

He further explained that commercial and economic areas include border strips and vast desert regions where the Ministry of Oil plans exploration operations, as well as lands set aside for development and investment projects.

Authorities provide geographic coordinates for lands intended for investment or exploration, which are then cross-referenced with existing databases to check for mine contamination or previous clearance operations. Specialized companies are contracted by the beneficiary entities to conduct clearance operations, adhering to national standards and under the supervision of the Mine Action Directorate.

Jaafar emphasized that these procedures aim to ensure the land’s safety before starting economic and investment projects and to affirm its suitability based on the planned activity’s nature.