Eight years after the defeat of ISIL in northern Iraq, explosive contamination continues to prevent the safe return of displaced communities in parts of Sinjar. Residential areas, public infrastructure and agricultural land remain affected by landmines, improvised explosive devices and other explosive remnants of war, requiring sustained clearance efforts before recovery can take place.

Global Clearance Solutions (GCS) is conducting UNmandated Explosive Hazard Clearance (EHC) operations in Sinjar as part of wider stabilisation and recovery efforts across Ninewa Province.

Residential and urban clearance operations

GCS clearance teams in Sinjar are tasked with systematic search and clearance of conflictdamaged buildings and surrounding areas. Operations focus on identifying and reporting suspicious items, securing task sites and supporting Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams in the safe neutralisation of explosive threats.

Local searchers form a critical part of these teams. They are trained to recognise indicators of explosive hazards and to operate within strict safety and qualitymanagement frameworks appropriate for complex urban and residential environments.

As Adrian Ritson, GCS Operations Manager in Iraq, explains:

"Our teams are working in areas that were heavily damaged during the conflict. The task is to systematically search, identify hazards and make these locations safe enough for families to return."

As clearance progresses, communities have begun to move back into neighbourhoods that have been declared safe, demonstrating the direct link between clearance activities and population return.

UN-mandated operations and national capacity building

GCS is contracted by UNMAS Iraq to deliver explosive hazard clearance in northern Iraq. A central element of this work is national capacity building, with a strong focus on recruiting, training and mentoring Iraqi personnel for professional clearance roles.

Since the start of operations, GCS has:

• trained more than 100 Iraqi staff for clearance operations

• delivered Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) activities to over 5,000 people

• rendered 40 task locations safe across Mosul, Sinjar and Tal Afar

• neutralised approximately 5,500 explosive threats

• cleared around 4 million square metres of land

• These outcomes support both immediate risk reduction and longer-term stabilisation objectives.

As Ritson notes, the impact is visible on the ground:

"We are seeing civilians returning to areas that were previously inaccessible. That is always the clearest indication that clearance is making a difference."

Clearance as a prerequisite for recovery

Sinjar remains one of the areas most heavily affected by displacement following the ISIL occupation. Many Yazidi families continue to live in camps or informal settlements, unable to return safely due to explosive contamination.

For local staff involved in clearance, the work has both professional and personal significance. One GCS searcher explained the motivation clearly:

"My aim is to bring back life to the city - to improve the quality of life for my family and my community."

Explosive hazard clearance is a prerequisite for reconstruction, agricultural use and the restoration of public services. Without clearance, homes cannot be rebuilt, land cannot be cultivated and daily life cannot safely resume.

Engagement and awareness

Alongside clearance operations, GCS contributes to broader engagement and awareness efforts to highlight the importance of mine action and the role of trained Iraqi clearance teams. This includes dialogue with national and international stakeholders on how clearance enables return, recovery and economic activity.

By combining accredited clearance operations, national workforce development and riskeducation activities, GCS supports efforts to restore safety and enable long-term recovery in Sinjar and across northern Iraq.