Latest news with #Sundus
Shafaq News
17-05-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Green awareness on the rise: Erbil flower festival blooms with record crowds
Shafaq News/ Erbil's annual Flower Festival entered its third day on Saturday, drawing growing crowds and vibrant displays in a public park, as the city showcases a renewed push toward environmental awareness and urban greening. Organized by the Erbil Gardens and Parks Department, the event features over 5,000 varieties of plants and trees presented by nearly 100 local nurseries and horticulture businesses from across the Kurdistan Region. The festival includes sections dedicated to ornamental plants, seasonal flowers, and home gardening supplies. Participants say public interest has noticeably increased this year. Sundus, a vendor specializing in houseplants, told Shafaq News that "more people are embracing indoor gardening and understanding its value." Darin, who runs a women-led flower cultivation project, said the turnout has exceeded expectations, offering a platform to highlight locally grown blooms. Othman, a garden design professional, noted that visitors are engaging not only with plants for decoration but also for their role in improving well-being. 'It's encouraging to see a deeper appreciation for the environmental and psychological benefits of greenery,' he shared with our agency. The festival aims to promote sustainable practices, support local horticulture, and integrate green culture into urban living. Kurdistan Region's Minister of Municipalities and Tourism, Sasan Awni, stated that the event highlights a broader initiative to develop green infrastructure and engage both the public and private sectors in environmental stewardship and beautification within city centers.
Shafaq News
04-04-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
After decades of war: Iraq still battling landmines
Shafaq News/ Landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) affect approximately 2,100 square kilometers of Iraqi territory—an area equal to nearly 300,000 football fields—according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The contamination, resulting from conflicts including the Iran-Iraq War and the 2014–2017 campaign against ISIS, continues to endanger civilians, displace families, restrict farmland access, and delay reconstruction efforts. The ICRC recorded 78 casualties from landmines and ERW between 2023 and 2024. In early 2025, three students were killed in an explosion in Abu al-Khasib, Basra. Children remain among the most at risk. One case involved 11-year-old Hussein from Al-Qadisiyah, who lost a leg after playing with an unexploded device. Another incident in Nineveh involved a woman named Sundus, who lost both legs after stepping on a landmine while fleeing conflict. Demining teams face ongoing risks during clearance. Noora Murad, a deminer in Sinjar, said the work remains dangerous. 'My daughter cries every time I leave for work,' she said. 'But we find satisfaction when a cleared site becomes a school, or land is returned to farming.' In 2024, around 6,000 people attended in-person awareness sessions in high-risk areas. The ICRC also donated 2,440 units of clearance equipment to Iraqi mine action authorities and civil defense directorates. Marking the International Day for Mine Awareness on April 4, the ICRC called for increased efforts to reduce contamination and support mine-affected communities. Clearance operations continue in cooperation with national authorities and humanitarian partners.
