Risks and advantages of doing a fieldwork in Iraq , Jaafar Jotheri, 2013

IHRR Postgraduate Forum: ‘Doing Fieldwork: Challenges and Opportunities’ On 24th May at Joachim Room Hild and Bede College /Institute of Hazard, Risk and

Resilience , Durham University , UK http://issuu.com/_ihrr/docs/ihrr_spring_newsletter_2013

Risks and advantages of doing a fieldwork in Iraq

By

Jaafar Jotheri

PhD Research Student in Geo-archaeology

Earth Sciences Department

Durham University 2013

Risks types in Iraq

Terrorists Attacks Wild Animals

Sunstroke

Harsh Weather

Car Bomb

Missile attack

Kidnapping

Unexploded Mines

Scorpion sting

Snake sting

Wolf and dog attack

Bugs sting

Dust storms

It may happen daily (10 victims/day)

It may happen weekly (10 victims/week)

It may happen Monthly (2 victims/ month)

It may happen Monthly (3 victims/ month)

it is common in villages and desert

it is common in villages and marshes

it is common in villages and marshes

it is common in villages , desert and marshes

>55 c in Summer

It happen weekly in Summer(hard to see and breath

Doing a filed work in Iraq is necessary for oil exploration and Archaeological excavation

Ranked the 2nd in the world’s oil reserves

Ur

Babylon

Assyrian

World’s Oldest civilianization More than a 100 thousand sites

1980 - 1988

1991 - 2003

2003-2011

2011- Now

Iraq is under bad political situations and Conflicts for decades

Since 1980 Iraq under a bad political situation and different type of wars : 1-Iran X Iraq = War for 8 years. 2- Kuwait X Iraq = Conflict and consequences for 12 years . 3-USA X Iraq= Conflict and War for 8 years. 4- Al-Qaeda Terrorists X Iraq = from 6 year till Now.

Generally, Iraq can be divided into three region according to probability of car bomb during a day

10%

90%

50%

Nothing to do to avoid car explosion, but the only thing you should do is do not be in crowded area and markets, church, school, mosque, governor building etc.

Church

Mosque Public Office

School

Car bomb

Missile

Generally, Iraq can be divided into three region according to probability of kidnaping during a day

10%

20%

90%

- Hire workers from good reputation families in each location of fieldwork even if I don’t need car or worker.

- I ignored my fieldwork stations in the Western region To avoided kidnapping

Iraq has a wide area of unexploded mines or bombs

Eastern and southern international border

80%

20%

Dangerous dogs bite area

Iraq is an area of predatory dogs and wolfs

Dangerous Wolf area

Middle and south Iraq are an area of scorpions , snakes and bugs attack

I have found many of poisonous snakes during my fieldwork in southern Iraq

It is really difficult to see and breath In this heavy dust day in Samawa southern Iraq .

The Harsh Weather

Dust Storms

Dust Storms Sunstroke > 55 c

( UK, Italy, Germany, USA, France, Japan, Canada ,etc.

(UK, USA and Italy)

00%

In spite of all these risks , many foreigners working now in Iraq because of there are many advantages.

Advantages of getting a field work data from Iraq: - I will write unique papers in high impact journals. - My work is Interesting for many researchers and

academic institution in the world. - My work will be valuable for Iraq. - I have got good fund to cover the laboratory tests

of samples.

I ‘ve got an Invitation to give a talk in Basel conference

Many UK researchers come to Durham to just to see my fieldwork results and many overseas researchers email me as well.

I am survived and did a really hard job.