The Iron Lady and Syria’s Chemical Weapons Status

BM-14 multiple rocket launcher

Ms. Sigrid Kaag, a Dutch United Nations diplomat, has been responsible for overseeing the elimination of Syria's chemical weapons and so far, according to media, she has done the job like no one else could have.

Autor*in Ajay Pal Singh Chabba -, 06.10.14

Ms. Sigrid Kaag, a Dutch United Nations diplomat, has been responsible for overseeing the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons and so far, according to media, she has done the job like no one else could have.

Kaag, also referred as the Iron Lady, due to her statuesque build and stronghold of Arabic and five other languages, has rubbished the notion that a Western woman would find it difficult to work in the Arab world. As head of the joint UN Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons mission, she is tasked with the difficult feat of destroying all of Syria’s chemical weapons by 30 June.

A recent update on the status of the mission states that the 30 June 2014 deadline for the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons programme will not be met and the focus now has shifted to the immediate removal of the remaining materials.

Her statement mentions about 93 percent of the 1300 tonne chemical weapon stockpile has been eliminated and seven percent is still remaining after missing several earlier deadlines. The world optimistically is looking up to her for the final declaration on achieving the mandate of mission.

She has done an excellent job to provide hope to families and friends dealing with the horror of a war that has killed more than 160,000 people to help ensure that all facilities that can produce, prepare and launch a chemical weapon attack will be destroyed soon.

Follow Ms. Kaag’s Twitter handle @SigridKaag,to keep updated on the mission’s progress.

TAGGED WITH
Track and Report Conflict in the Digital Age

Citizen engagement coupled with technology is helping to usher in a new age of conflict reporting, tracking and mitigating.