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 groundwaters. 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.