Explosive contamination continues to affect daily life in parts of northern Iraq, particularly in areas where families are returning to farmland and residential districts that have not yet been fully cleared. In these environments, risk education is a critical complement to clearance, helping communities recognise hazards and reduce exposure until land can be formally released as safe.

On 4 April 2022, Global Clearance Solutions (GCS) marked the UN International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action through a community-based mine risk education activity in the Tel Kaif district, near Mosul.

Practical risk education at community level

The activity brought together local residents, including school-aged children, for a practical awareness workshop focused on the risks posed by landmines, improvised explosive devices and other explosive remnants of war. The session was delivered by GCS field teams already operating in the area under UN mandate.

The workshop addressed:

• common types of explosive hazards encountered in agricultural and residential areas

• how to recognise suspicious items and signs of contamination

• safe behaviour and movement in potentially hazardous environments

• how and where to report suspected explosive items

The objective was to reduce immediate risk for families living and working in contaminated areas, particularly children who may encounter hazards during daily activities such as walking to school or helping with farming tasks.

Risk education as part of integrated mine action

In Iraq, mine risk education plays a vital role alongside survey and clearance operations. While clearance reduces risk over time, education helps communities protect themselves in areas that remain contaminated or are awaiting formal clearance.

GCS integrates risk education into its humanitarian operations to ensure that communities benefit not only from clearance outputs, but also from knowledge that enables safer decision-making during the recovery phase.

The Tel Kaif activity formed part of GCS's wider explosive hazard mitigation work in northern Iraq, which includes explosive hazard clearance, urban clearance and national capacity building delivered in coordination with UNMAS and national authorities.

Sustaining awareness beyond Mine Awareness Day

International Mine Awareness Day serves as a focal point for visibility, but explosive risk does not diminish once the day passes. For communities living in affected areas, awareness and education remain essential until land can be confirmed as safe.

By delivering risk education directly in the communities where it operates, GCS supports immediate harm reduction while longer-term clearance and recovery efforts continue.