BASRA, Iraq — The area surrounding the long border between Iraq and Iran conceals much of the tragedy of the eight-year war the two countries fought from 1980 to 1988. Beneath the ground where tens of thousands of people cross in both directions lie more than 20 million landmines, most of them in Iraq. They pose a serious threat to the lives of those who survived the war and those born after it.
Ammar, who recently celebrated his 10th birthday, lost the sight in one of his eyes, while his brother Hasan suffered an even worse fate near their house near Shalamja.