The Iraqi government has completed the first phase of its plan to remove explosive remnants of war left behind by the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) from the streets of Fallujah.

As a result of these efforts, local officials told Diyaruna, thousands of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), torched cars and rubble have been removed from the streets of the Anbar province city to make way for displaced residents to return.

Iraqi teams also have searched homes to ensure they are free of explosives.

Military and municipal personnel have completed the rehabilitation of nine neighbourhoods in the northern part of the city in preparation for the return of displaced residents, said Anbar provincial council member Mohammed Yasin.

These are al-Hay al-Askari 1 and 2, al-Shorta, al-Dobbat, al-Muallemeen, al-Wehda, al-Hodra al-Mohammadiya, al-Jughaifi and al-Shari al-Jadeed, Yasin said.

After the city was liberated from ISIL, he told Diyaruna, security forces and the relevant government departments launched a plan to remove all war remnants.

In addition to cleaning up the streets and ensuring the removal of unexploded ordnance, he said, the plan includes rehabilitating Fallujah and restoring services in preparation for receiving returning families.

The first phase of the rehabilitation plan has been completed, he said, and the northern neighbourhoods identified are now "well-secured from explosives, have services, and are ready to receive the displaced population".

The second phase of the plan will tackle cleanup and reconstruction efforts in southern Fallujah, Yasin said.

"Debris removal vehicles from the ministries of construction, industry, oil and [city] municipal departments began working in residential areas in southern Fallujah," he said.

"We hope that within a month the entire process of rehabilitation of the city is complete and that everything will be ready for citizens wishing to return," he said.

Displaced residents return

Operations to return displaced residents to Fallujah began in early September, Yasin said, with residents returning to the areas of al-Karmah, Saqlawiyah, Nasaf and al-Hasi on the outskirts of the city after they were cleared of mines and explosives.

"In the coming days, we will start the return of displaced persons in batches to the city centre," he said.

Meanwhile, Fallujah mayor Issa al-Sayer told Diyaruna efforts to reconstruct the city are continuing at a rapid pace.

"We made good progress as part of the plan for the reconstruction of Fallujah, and nearly half of the city's neighbourhoods are ready for the return of its inhabitants," he said.

Iraqi army forces and government departments have removed all the explosives ISIL left behind and have reopened main and side roads, he added.

"We also have begun pumping water to homes, repairing damaged power lines and transformers, rehabilitating roads and other service sectors, and preparing schools to receive the children of the displaced," al-Sayer said.

Rehabilitation work has been completed in the northern neighbourhoods, he said, and families displaced from that area are starting to return to their homes.

In the southern parts of the city, the security forces are still working to dismantle IEDs, he said.

Ongoing efforts

Once explosives have been removed from a neighbourhood, it is immediately cleaned of debris and damaged infrastructure is repaired, al-Sayer said.

After that, displaced residents are invited to return.

"Operations to return the displaced to Fallujah's outskirts are ongoing," he said, as military and municipal teams secure more areas.

The Iraqi government is harnessing all its efforts to accelerate the reconstruction of Fallujah and facilitate the return of its people, Anbar provincial council member Farhan al-Obeidi told Diyaruna.

"The remnants and explosives left behind by the terrorists are many, and it will require a long time to remove them and repair the damage to the infrastructure," he said. "But with the joint efforts of the security forces and government sectors, we overcame many challenges and difficulties."

A substantial amount of work has been done to ensure security and basic services in and around Fallujah, which has directly contributed to the return of the displaced population, al-Obeidi said.

"We hope that all organisations and countries around the world will help us complete the reconstruction operations in our cities and contribute to meeting the needs of the returning residents," he added.