Berlin, Oct 3 (IANS/EFE) Germany plans to send medical staff to northern Iraq's Kurdistan region to treat people injured in the ongoing political and sectarian violence in the Middle Eastern country.
"Germany is prepared to send the seriously wounded for treatment in German military hospitals," German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday.
Since Islamic State (IS) militants have been laying landmines in residential areas to prevent the return of refugees, helping mine victims is at the top of the German army's priorities, Von der Leyen said.
Injuries resulting from mine explosions account for 70 percent of the total number of wounded Kurds in Iraq, so Berlin plans to send mine detection equipment.
During her visit to Hammelburg, the minister observed the training provided to 32 Kurdish fighters on how to use Milan anti-tank rockets.
Germany is also planning to provide the Kurds with anti-tank weapons and military vehicles.
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The arrival of the first shipment of German arms to the Kurds a week ago coincided with a surprise visit by Von der Leyen to Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan region, where she said she was able to confirm the "good organisation, resolve and determination" shown by Kurdish Peshmerga forces.
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