Mine Explosion in Kurdistan Province Claims Victims

Following the explosion of a mine left over from the Iran-Iraq War near the village of Langriz in Kurdistan Province, a 13-year-old boy was killed and a 12-year-old boy is in very critical condition. The official news agency of the Islamic Republic, IRNA, reported on August 4 that the head of the Central Council of the Sarvabad district, which includes Langriz, stated that there is little hope for the survival of the other teenager. This explosion occurred while the two boys were grazing their livestock and passing near an abandoned military post from the Iran-Iraq War. Hadi Khodamradi, the head of the Central Council of Sarvabad, told IRNA, 'Unfortunately, there is no warning sign indicating that there are mines in this old abandoned post, and it should have been marked with barbed wire or clear signs.' This is while, according to this official, previously other mines near the same post had exploded due to livestock coming into contact with them. Kurdistan Province, with a 227-kilometer border with Iraq, is one of the areas where mines and military munitions have remained since the eight-year war. Mr. Khodamradi expressed concern that if the area where the recent explosion occurred is not cleared, similar fatal incidents may happen. The explosion of mines left over from a war that ended 27 years ago continues to make headlines. For instance, last April, five members of the border guard at the 'Seh Tapan' post in the Sarvabad district of Kermanshah Province lost their lives due to a mine explosion. The website 'Iran Without Mines' reports, based on the 'International Campaign to Ban Landmines,' that two years ago, landmine explosions in Iran left 36 dead and 71 injured. The Iranian Mine Action Center also stated last April that Iran is the 'second' most mine-contaminated country, suffering casualties from their explosions.