UN: Clearing weapons from Iraq, Syria to take 40-50 years

Cost of ridding Mideast countries of mines, unexploded ordnance projected to be over $170 million

By AP 5 April 2017, 4:38 am

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A rebel fighter reacts as a landmine, planted by Islamic State jihadists, is exploded by his comrades in the village of Tilalayn on the western outskirts of the northern Syrian town of Dabiq, on November 25, 2016. (AFP/ Nazeer al-Khatib)

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations says it will take 40 to 50 years to clear the mines, improvised explosive devices and other unexploded ordnance from Iraq and Syria.

Agnes Marcaillou, director of the United Nations Mine Action Service, said “we are looking at decades of work for these countries to look like post-World War II Europe where we still find some unexploded ordnance here and there.”

She told a news conference Tuesday marking International Mine Awareness Day that her office is looking at a “ballpark figure” of between $170 million to $180 million a year to clean up the areas retaken from the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq.

Marcaillou said that figure includes $50 million annually needed just to make safe Mosul, which is still partly held by Islamic State extremists.