Iraq: A plan to clear Al-Faw of mines

INA - BAGHDAD 

The Ministry of Environment announced the development of a plan to clear Al-Faw from mines, in partnership with the Ministry of Defense.

"There is a government tendency to improve the important sectors in Basra Governorate, which witnessed mine clearance operations, as PM Muhammed S. Al-Sudani, is now focusing on major projects in Al-Faw, Al-Faw port, Al-Nibras petrochemical project, and the implementation of water desalination plants," said the Director General of the Department of Mine Affairs in the Ministry, Sabah Al-Husseini, to the Iraqi News Agency - INA.
 
Al-Husseini added, "We have developed a plan to purify Al-Faw in partnership with the Ministry of Defense, and we hope, after the issuance of the budget law, that all support will be available for this issue. We will finish clearing Al-Faw to be ready for the implementation of projects."

"We have large maps of Basra, and the Al-Faw now contains about 130-131 kilometers that require mine clearance. We will conduct a technical and non-technical survey of it, and it is expected that part of this area to appear free of pollution, as we will work to identify dangerous areas and treat them," he included.

He noted, "We are now on the verge of using new technologies, as we use the technology of geographic aerial photography, we use drones, and we are trying to contract with some companies to equip us with some modern aircraft in order to shorten the time and national effort in this file."