Syria: Landmine Casualties Continue as UN Partners Intensify Clearance Efforts

Ongoing Mine Threats in Syria as UN Ramps Up Clearance Efforts

Daily Casualties from Explosive Devices

The threat of explosive ordnance in Syria continues to claim lives almost every day, according to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. Speaking at a press briefing in New York on Monday, he highlighted the ongoing dangers posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Farmers and shepherds are particularly at risk, with over 60 fatalities and more than 90 injuries reported since January. Many of these victims were tending their land or herding animals when the incidents occurred.

Ongoing Clearance Operations

As hostilities have decreased in some regions, humanitarian organizations have been intensifying their mine clearance efforts in newly accessible areas.

Since December, deminers have removed and safely disposed of over 1,400 pieces of unexploded ordnance and identified 138 hazardous locations across Idleb, Aleppo, Hama, Deir-ez-Zor, and Lattakia.

On Monday, UN partners visited a farm in Darayya, Rural Damascus, where mine clearance was recently completed with support from the Syria Humanitarian Fund. This effort is crucial to allowing farmers to return to their land safely.

Humanitarian Aid and Diplomatic Initiatives

Despite ongoing challenges, humanitarian aid operations remain uninterrupted.

Over the weekend, 40 trucks carrying nearly 1,000 metric tonnes of food from the World Food Programme (WFP) crossed from Türkiye into northwest Syria via the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing. This shipment is expected to assist more than 270,000 people.

Additionally, the UN and its partners have increased shipments of food and other essential supplies from Jordan since the beginning of the year.

On the diplomatic front, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen is set to visit Damascus this week following discussions at the Munich Security Conference. During the conference, he emphasized the need for an inclusive, Syrian-led political process and called on all parties to uphold women’s rights.

“The UN urges all factions in Syria to honor their international commitments, respect women’s rights and dignity, and ensure their full participation in shaping the country’s future,” said Mr. Dujarric.

This includes safeguarding access to education, freedom of movement, political representation, and protection against violence and exploitation.