Organization Warns: Unexploded Ordnance Claiming Lives of Returning Syrians

The British organization "Halo Trust" has warned of a sharp rise in civilian casualties due to unexploded ordnance in Syria, especially with the return of thousands of displaced people and refugees to areas that witnessed fierce battles in recent years.

The organization emphasized in a recent report that Syria is now the most dangerous country in the world in terms of civilian injuries caused by explosives, warning of a "catastrophic increase" in incidents, especially among children who are at risk while playing in areas contaminated with explosives.

Simon Jackson, Syria Program Manager at "Halo", revealed that more than a thousand civilians have been killed by mines and unexploded ordnance since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, including 160 victims since the beginning of 2025, a third of whom are children. He added: "The country faces an unprecedented challenge in containing this disaster, with over 1.3 million people returning in recent months".

The organization has recorded a significant increase in reports received through its hotline in Idlib, while Deir ez-Zor topped the list of the most affected areas, where children accounted for half of the victims, according to medical reports from "Doctors Without Borders".

At the end of last May, four children were killed in the Maraiya area in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, following the explosion of unexploded ordnance while they were playing in the fields. Halo described the incident as a "tragic example" of the ongoing danger posed by war remnants.

Halo Trust is working to expand awareness programs in schools and local centers, but its capabilities remain limited, with no more than 120 experts working in northwest Syria. The organization estimates that mine clearance requires annual funding of at least $40 million and has called on the Syrian government to join the Ottawa Treaty on Mine Ban to enable international support.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced that the number of recorded injuries since the beginning of 2025 has exceeded 500 cases in just the first three months, compared to 388 incidents and 900 injuries in 2024, indicating a worsening crisis.

Landmines and unexploded ordnance are among the most prominent challenges threatening civilian lives, spread over vast areas as a result of military operations carried out by the Assad regime and its allies during the years of war, exacerbating the humanitarian suffering in the country.