UNEP
and Iraqi Environment Ministry to Assess Key Polluted Sites
Nairobi/Geneva, 14 September 2004 : Environmental
'hot spots' in Iraq are to be investigated as part of a long
term plan to clean up the country after well over a decade
of instability and conflict, the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) announced today.
Iraqi scientists, trained in the latest
laboratory and field testing skills, will be carrying out
tests at a handful of contaminated sites
in order to assess their threats to human health, wildlife
and the wider environment.
Under the project, coordinated by UNEP in
close cooperation with the Iraqi Ministry of the Environment,
the scientists will share samples with UNEP's Post Conflict
Assessment Unit (PCAU) in Geneva so that testing can be carried
out both in Iraq and in independent and reputable laboratories
in Europe.
The new initiative underlines the Iraqi
government's commitment to put environmental issues in the
centre of the reconstruction efforts,
despite the continuing difficulties prevailing in the country.
Klaus Toepfer, UNEP's Executive Director,
said: "We estimate that there are more than 300 sites
in Iraq considered to be contaminated to various levels by
a range of pollutants. This pilot project will focus on up
to five of them. Importantly, UNEP will be training Iraqi
experts to carry out the tests in order to build the skills
and technical-know how in the
country. This is part of our long term aim of creating a fully
independent Iraqi team of first class environmental assessors".
"This new project, which has been given
generous support from the Government of Japan, will also be
assisting the Iraqi Ministry of the Environment to strengthen
its skills in other areas including environmental law, natural
resources management and taking part in multi-lateral environmental
agreements on everything from protecting the ozone layer to
trade in endangered species," he said.
Ms. Mishkat Moumin, the Iraqi Environment
Minister, said: "My country is faced with a wide range
of pressing issues that must be addressed if the Iraqi people
are to enjoy a stable, healthy and prosperous future. Delivering
a clean and unpolluted environment is a key piece in this
jigsaw puzzle towards a better future. So we warmly welcome
our growing cooperation with UNEP and their commitment to
strengthen our ministry and help deliver meaningful change
on the ground".
The $4.7 million project has been approved
in the framework of UN Iraq Trust Fund.
PCAU has developed a great deal of expertise
in the area of post conflict assessment after carrying out
projects and in some cases clean ups in regions and countries
ranging from the Balkans and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
to Afghanistan and Liberia.
The new project, the second involving UNEP
and Iraq with funding from Japan to be announced in the past
few weeks (see Restoring Iraqi Marshlands Project Launched
by UN Environment Programme: 23 July 2004), has pin pointed
10 priority sites from which five are likely to be chosen.
These include the Al-Mishraq Sulphur State
Company site where sulphur mining, sulphuric acid and aluminium
sulphate manufacturing has been carried out.
Assessments are urgently needed to evaluate
the impact of sulphur fires on surrounding soils, vegetation
and surface and roundwaters. There are also environmental
concerns about air pollution and discharges of effluents.
The Midland (Al-Doura) Refinery Stores are
also of concern. The Iraqi Ministry of the Environment want
to assess the impact of chemical spills of more than 5,000
tonnes of chemicals, including tetra-ethyl lead, on nearby
soils, vegetation and water sources.
Investigations are also planned at the Al
Suwaira Seed Store where seeds have been coated with methyl
mercury fungicide. Around 50 tonnes of contaminated seeds
were stolen during the recent conflict with the potential
to contaminate food supplies such as bread. Assessments are
also expected to focus on the impact of fungicide residues
on soils and water sources.
The project will also identify an oil pipeline
site where recent attacks have led to explosions, oil trench
fires and oil discharges into the
surrounding environment.
There have been recent concerns surrounding
recycling of scrap metals from stockpiles of damaged and destroyed
military vehicles. It is planned to assess one scrap metal
site in order to evaluate possibly uncontrolled releases of
contaminants such as halons, asbestos and engine oils to nearby
soils and water sources.
Once the precise threats have been established,
the UNEP/Iraqi team will be in a position to recommend remedial
action if this is considered necessary.
The training of Iraqi experts in areas including
scientific and environmental assessment will build on recent
training workshops on
modern laboratory techniques held in Switzerland and Jordan,
funded in this case by the Government of Germany and UK Government's
Department for International Development.
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