Explosive ordnance kills two children in Kirkuk
KIRKUK, Iraq - Two children were killed and another two were wounded when an explosive detonated in a village in Kirkuk on Monday.
The children were playing close to a landfill in Adiliya village, south of Kirkuk, when the explosive ordnance went off.
Farah Abbas, 3, and Duaa Amir, 7, died in the incident.
"The sound of the explosion was huge. Ten to 15 children were playing there. When I came to the scene I noticed children lying scattered on the ground,” Ammar Yasir, Abbas’ uncle, told Rudaw’s Hardi Mohammed on Monday.
“Two of them died and another two were wounded and are now hospitalized. One of them is doing well, thanks to God, but the other is in critical condition, sustaining serious head and abdomen injuries with his legs amputated," he added.
Adiliya village used to be a military base until 2003. Despite repeated calls from locals, the village was never cleared of explosive ordinances ever since they returned to their area.
Iraq has seen numerous wars and conflicts with civilians bearing the brunt of their implications with landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) remaining one of the leading threats to children in the country.
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stated that over 519 children have been killed or injured in Iraq over the last five years from explosive ordnance.
Though Iraq no longer suffers from active warfare, with the exception of the Islamic State (ISIS) insurgency, safety and stability in the country continue to be undermined by ERWs. The statement added that children are especially vulnerable to the threat because they are “attracted to their colorful appearance” and are not aware of the dangers they possess.
UNICEF and UNMAS called on the Iraqi government and the donor community to take action towards ensuring the safety of children and raising awareness on the matter. Both organizations have been providing training for medical teams and “psychosocial support when needed.”
The children were playing close to a landfill in Adiliya village, south of Kirkuk, when the explosive ordnance went off.
Farah Abbas, 3, and Duaa Amir, 7, died in the incident.
"The sound of the explosion was huge. Ten to 15 children were playing there. When I came to the scene I noticed children lying scattered on the ground,” Ammar Yasir, Abbas’ uncle, told Rudaw’s Hardi Mohammed on Monday.
“Two of them died and another two were wounded and are now hospitalized. One of them is doing well, thanks to God, but the other is in critical condition, sustaining serious head and abdomen injuries with his legs amputated," he added.
Adiliya village used to be a military base until 2003. Despite repeated calls from locals, the village was never cleared of explosive ordinances ever since they returned to their area.
Iraq has seen numerous wars and conflicts with civilians bearing the brunt of their implications with landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) remaining one of the leading threats to children in the country.
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stated that over 519 children have been killed or injured in Iraq over the last five years from explosive ordnance.
Though Iraq no longer suffers from active warfare, with the exception of the Islamic State (ISIS) insurgency, safety and stability in the country continue to be undermined by ERWs. The statement added that children are especially vulnerable to the threat because they are “attracted to their colorful appearance” and are not aware of the dangers they possess.
UNICEF and UNMAS called on the Iraqi government and the donor community to take action towards ensuring the safety of children and raising awareness on the matter. Both organizations have been providing training for medical teams and “psychosocial support when needed.”