UN says it will take 4 to 5 decades to clear weapons in Iraq, Syria

Agnes Marcaillou, director of the UN Mine Action Service, said her office is looking at a figure between USD 170 million to USD 180 million a year to clean up the areas retaken from the IS in Iraq.

New York, April 5: The United Nations says it will take 40 to 50 years to clear the mines, improvised explosive devices and other unexploded ordnance from Iraq and Syria.

Agnes Marcaillou, director of the UN Mine Action Service, said "we are looking at decades of work for these countries to look like post-World War II Europe where we still find some unexploded ordnance here and there."

She told a news conference on Tuesday marking International Mine Awareness Day that her office is looking at a 'ballpark figure' of between USD 170 million to USD 180 million a year to clean up the areas retaken from the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq.

Marcaillou said that figure includes USD 50 million annually needed just to make safe Mosul, which is still partly held by Islamic State extremists.

PTI