The open wounds of war in Iraq

On 6 March 2022. Mosul, Iraq. Abdul Jabad poses for a portrait inside a destroyed school in Mosul. He wants to become a doctor. Currently some 264 million children worldwide do not have the opportunity to enter or complete school due to poverty, discrimination, armed conflict and emergencies. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for UNICEF

On 7 March 2022. Mosul, Iraq. Ali, 17 years old, shows his arm prosthesis inside his home located outskirts of Mosul. He lost his two hands after being hit by a mortar while he was trying to run away from the war in 2015. His parents were killed in another incident few years ago. He was attending 3rd grade and then he quit studies. In 2021, 52 children were killed and 73 were maimed by explosive remnants of war (ERW) and unexploded ordnance. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for UNICEF

On 6 March 2022. Mosul, Iraq. Portrait of Yousef, 12 years old, Jummuria Secondary school. He dreams to become police officer. The school was severely damaged by shelling during the war in Mosul. Explosive weapons kill and main children and leave them with deep psychological scars. Whether or not they are direct targets when explosive weapons are deployed in populated areas schools and hospitals are often damaged beyond repair. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for UNICEF

On 7 March 2022. Mosul, Iraq. Portrait of Dalia, 17 years old, at her home. Dalia Mohammed Fathi was affected by her spine during an explosion in a bazaar. Her father passed immediately away. She was unconscious for 2 months. Explosive weapons in populated areas – EWIPA – are one of society’s worst threats for children during times of armed conflict. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for UNICEF

On 1 March 2022. Basra, Iraq. Portrait of Zainab, 14 years old, inside her house in Zareeji. She was affected by a UXO while she was collecting steel with her brother, Abd Alhussain, 6 km far way her community. “My dream is to see again, I don’t want anything else in my life, my wish is to see I have nothing precious than my eyes. I hope my eyesight will return soon.”; “I left school two years ago, I was in the sixth grade, in school my future, I hope to become a doctor.” Even after conflict, the effects of explosive weapons reverberate for years to come. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for UNICEF.

On 3 March 2022. Basra, Iraq. A mural displayed at the walls of an Iraqi school alerts children about the danger of landmines and UXOs. In 2020, explosive weapons were responsible for 47% of all verified child casualties. Most of these casualties were reported in populated areas. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for UNICEF

On 28 February 2022. Fallujah, Iraq. Portrait of Diab, 8 years old, at his home. A UXO exploded while he was playing with his friends one year ago. His leg was injured in the incident and he is currently using crutches to aid his movement. He has pain and difficulty hearing due to the noise during the explosion. “The bomb went off on me and this is how I am now, I left school because of the accident, and I can’t go to school, neither play football” Explosive weapons in populated areas – EWIPA – are one of society’s worst threats for children during times of armed conflict. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for UNICEF

On 6 March 2022. Mosul, Iraq. Amat, 13 years old, poses for a portrait inside a destroyed school in Mosul. He wants to become an engineer. Conflicts leave deep scars on the psyche of children, highlighting the importance of education in hope to create a future that could break the cycle of war. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for UNICEF

On 28 February 2022. Falluja, Habanya, Iraq. Portrait of Hussein, 5 years old inside his temporally home in Habanya. A UXO exploded when he was playing with his friends 2 months ago. He lost part of his ear and has shrapnel in his stomach and hands. “The bomb went off on me and this is how I am now, I left school because of the accident and now I can’t go to school and I can’t play football” Explosive weapons kill and injure thousands of civilians each year, during and after armed conflict. Diego Ibarra Sánchez for UNICEF.

Lost childhood, amputation, trauma, violence, displacement, and school dropouts take their toll on the most vulnerable. Children affected by multiple conflicts in Iraq face an uncertain future. Explosive weapons kill and injure thousands of civilians each year, during and after the armed conflict. Children account for roughly half of the casualties from explosive ordnance.

Armed conflicts are increasingly fought in populated areas, like cities, where children represent a large portion of the community. When explosive weapons are used in these areas, over 90 percent of victims are civilians – many, children, or their parents. These are the repercussions of years of conflict in Iraq. In the 1980s, Iraq and Iran plunged into a war that lasted more than eight years. Now, thirty years later, thousands of victims continue to scatter the remains of loved ones in areas around the border, such as the Basra region which is still contaminated with explosive remnants.

Iraq remains among the countries most contaminated by landmines and explosive devices in the world. According to the United Nations Mine Action Service, Iraq has approximately 2,85 square kilometers of recorded contaminated land, including areas recaptured from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), putting at risk 8.5 million people.

This photo essay was published in EL PAIS SEMANAL

https://elpais.com/eps/2022-07-09/las-heridas-abiertas-de-la-infancia-en-irak.html