UN says burning oil fields in Iraq poses threat to civilians
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Cairo, Oct. 27, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Near-suffocation due to what appears to be a scorched-earth policy employed by Islamic State militants is causing further suffering to civilians in Northern Iraq, a UN agency said on Thursday.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a statement that fires are set in an apparent response to the ongoing military offensive to drive the extremist group out of its stronghold of Mosul.
It said that a total of 19 oil wells have been set ablaze by armed groups near the town of Qayyarah, South-east of Mosul, with citizens and security forces exposed to toxic fumes.
Iraqi authorities have blamed the blazes on IS activities.
The agency said that last week, stockpiles of poisonous materials stored at the Mishraq Sulphate Factory near Mosul also caught fire, leading to a large toxic plume spreading over dozens of km.
“Iraqi health authorities, supported by the World Health Organisation, treated more than 1,000 cases of suffocation in towns and villages bordering Mosul.
“This week, a water plant was reportedly affected by fighting, leading to a chlorine gas leak,’’ UNEP said without specifying the location of the facility.
UN Environment Chief Erik Solheim described it as sad episode.
“This is sadly just the latest episode in what has been the wholesale destruction of Iraq’s environment over several decades.
“From the draining of the marshlands to the contamination of land and the collapse of environmental management systems said.
On Oct. 17, Iraqi forces, backed by Kurdish forces and a U.S.-led air alliance, started a high profile campaign to dislodge IS from Mosul.
Iraq has since reported advances in the mission.
The Sunni extremist militia captured Mosul and other large areas of Sunni-populated northern and western Iraq in a lightning offensive in mid-2014. (dpa/NAN)
(Edited by Damilola Oyewole/ Julius Enehikhuere)