Despite the challenges presented by the unprecedented pandemic situation, and GCS international staff having to leave the country for some months, GCS was successfully granted full Operational Accreditation from UNMAS, Iraq in August for explosive ordnance clearance operations and capacity building in Tal Afar and Sinjar. In the beginning of September GCS was awarded a further UNOPS/UNMAS project for explosive ordnance clearance operations in Mosul.

GCS - determined and committed

The oldest area of Mosul west side: The Midan

While the pandemic severely impacted everyone’s lives, millions of citizens around the world were still waking up to the deadly threat of unexploded landmines and IEDs within their communities. GCS was determined to navigate the ongoing challenges presented by these unforeseen circumstances, in order to continue doing this vital work and to remain true to its commitment of ridding Iraqi communities of the lethal scourge of explosive ordnance.

Becoming resourceful

Destroyed houses in the Midan, Mosul. In this area GCS will be working on the new contract.

Although the Iraqi borders remained closed to international travel throughout the month of July, GCS saw a window of opportunity to mobilise the national team for continuation training for the duration of the month. (One goal of the project is for the national teams to become increasingly independent, so that GCS can continue to build towards an effective self-sustaining and self-supervising local national capability for the future.) By mid-August the international team returned safely to the country – making it one of the first to redeploy on the ground in Iraq. Eager to resume operations, the team flew into Baghdad and then drove to Mosul in a secure convoy.

GCS obtains full Operational Accreditation

Thanks to the successful track record of GCS in Iraq in 2020 - our ability to rapidly mobilise and deploy project teams in Tal Afar and Sinjar, and our flexibility in adapting to unprecedented complex circumstances, GCS was successfully granted full Operational Accreditation from UNMAS, Iraq. Following the Eid break, the first task order was issued. GCS clearance experts are tasked with highly complex undertakings involving the search, identification, neutralisation and removal of explosive ordnance and IEDs. In addition to search and clearance tasks, GCS recruits and trains local staff to deliver emergency Risk Education (RE) to people returning to, or residing in, contaminated areas.

GCS is awarded a further contract in Mosul

Hoping for stabilisation and safety: Young boy on a bike in the streets of the Midan, Mosul

GCS was awarded a further UNOPS/UNMAS project contract in the beginning of September for high-risk search operations in Mosul, where millions of tonnes of debris are yet to made safe and cleared. The training phase of the contract begins in mid-September and it is expected that the project can go operational by October. Booby traps and minefield-style obstacle belts litter public and private infrastructure including houses, schools, hospitals and playgrounds throughout Mosul. Unexploded IEDs lie hidden under rubble, littering roads and farmland.

GCS acknowledges that the complexity of the contamination in the area requires a comprehensive explosive hazard management response. Only then can humanitarian, stabilisation and redevelopment efforts be truly successful, allowing the more than 1 million internally displaced people to safely return home.