Iraqi women team up to clear mines and save lives

Reuters Videos
2 年前

STORY: These Iraqi women are clearing mines to save lives

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) laid by Islamic State are killing people

and preventing local farmers from cultivating their land

Location: Bashiqa, Iraq

Asmaa Khalil leads a team of five women

who meticulously clear one patch of land at a time

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF FEMALE DEMINING TEAM AT THE SWISS FOUNDATION FOR MINE ACTION (FSD), ASMAA KHALIL, SAYING:

"In the beginning, working with mines and IEDs was scary, of course. The name alone is scary. But when I started a course and during the training, after a month or two of working in that field and getting some experience, it became easier. But there are other difficulties that remain until today and they are of a social nature. Our society does not accept that women work in a field that is somehow of military nature. Our field is similar to that of the military, we follow military rules. So what is difficult for me is that until today, I can't tell everyone that I work in this field.