Returning to a place that caused hurt requires grit. Sometimes a relentless will to give back. Eight years after the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the terror of that time still resonates. “I lost hope and thought there was no life for us anymore,” says 27-year-old Haifa, a Yazidi woman, one of many religious minorities in Iraq.

*GCS’ Explosive Hazard Clearance (EHC) team in Sinjar – ©UNMAS*

Conflict forced her from Sinjar. For weeks they had to survive on the streets. Fears of being attacked or kidnapped never escaped. Eventually, they made it to Khanke camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) south of Duhok. This offered partial relief for her and nine other family members, unable to return to liberated lands beset by explosives.

Safety first

“Haifa responded to a local area open request for individuals to join GCS in 2020,” says Adrian Ritson, GCS’ Operations Manager in Iraq, who oversees several teams responsible for the clearance of conflict-damaged buildings. As a searcher, Haifa and co-workers are trained to spot suspicious items and report these to Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operators. The work is risky but rewarding. “The locals are very happy with the clearance that’s ongoing. To the point where we’ve seen civilians moving back into areas that we have cleared or wanting to move back,” adds Ritson.

“My aim is to bring back life to the city... To improve the quality of life for my family and community.”

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq currently contracts GCS to clear post-war contamination. In doing so, GCS has trained over 100 Iraqis for professional clearance operations and conducted various Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) activities, informing over 5000 people about hazards in their neighbourhoods. So far, 40 specific areas spanning Mosul, Sinjar and Tal Afar have been rendered safe. Approximately 5500 threats have been neutralised, and 4 million square meters cleared.

Global reactions

Reported unrest ending in the formation of a new Iraqi government helped pave the way for the country to host the 46th Baghdad International Fair (BIF). From November 1st, the 10-day event will draw a range of stakeholders and sectors seeking to invest in the region. GCS will form part of a German delegation converging in Iraq’s capital to foster closer ties.

“Our objective is to showcase our humanitarian explosive clearance efforts in the Ninewa Province to help displaced people return safely to their homes and agricultural lands,” says Amer Mardam-Bey, MENA Director of Business Development for GCS. “We hope to educate attendees about the importance of training Iraqi EOD personnel and the positive impact they are having.” Two of Haifa’s teammates, Razia and Rania, will also be at BIF 2022 to offer further awareness about their demining tasks.

Clearance efforts are vital to boosting growth and restoring hope. After ISIL seized Sinjar’s mountainous terrain, thousands of displaced Yazidis remain strewn across informal settlements. So far, only her husband has managed to return home, while the rest of her relatives remain sheltered at the mentioned camp. “My aim is to bring back life to the city,” says Haifa, “To improve the quality of life for my family and community.”

News feature first posted by UNMAS in Iraq, with additional reporting by GCS.