February 4th 2025.
In December of 2024, as Bashar Al-Assad's regime collapsed, many hoped it would bring about a positive change for Syria. However, instead of a new beginning, a dangerous and silent threat has been lurking beneath the feet of the Syrian people. Leftover landmines and unexploded ordnance from the civil war have become a deadly hazard for those returning to their homes after years of seeking refuge abroad.
According to the landmine clearance charity, The HALO Trust, at least 39 adults and eight children have lost their lives in the past week alone due to these explosives. Mouiad Alnofaly, the operations manager for HALO in Syria, described the situation as the whole country being "contaminated" with hundreds of miles filled with hidden landmines and other explosive dangers. These hazards are not limited to remote areas, as they have been found in residential areas, hospitals, and schools where children play.
Sadly, children are often the victims of these deadly explosives. Just last week, a 12-year-old boy lost his leg while playing with his grandfather. This tragic incident is just one example of the countless lives forever changed by the war. Even as people return to their homes, they have no way of knowing which areas are hazardous, and many have fallen victim to these hidden dangers.
HALO has been working to educate people on the dangers of landmines, but unfortunately, this has not been enough to stop people from returning to their homeland. Mouiad, himself a refugee who recently returned to Syria, understands the desire to go back home. He shared his own joy and happiness at being reunited with his family after 11 long years. However, the reality is that the number of civilians killed or injured by landmines since the fall of Assad is now over 400 and could be even higher due to unreported incidents.
HALO, which operates in 28 countries, has a small team of 40 deminers in Syria. Since the change of regime, they have seen a tenfold increase in calls from civilians in desperate need of assistance to deal with landmines, bombs, and rockets left behind from the civil war. However, this team is not enough to tackle the crisis, and Mouiad estimates they would need at least 400 deminers to make a significant impact. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that without proper support, it could take decades to clear Syria of these deadly explosives.
The complexity of the civil war and the involvement of multiple armed factions make it challenging for HALO to operate in all areas of Syria. Currently, they are only able to work in the northwest region, where accidents are most frequent. However, they are planning an expansion to other governorates in need. Mouiad called for the support of the international community, pointing out that they have been supporting other countries facing similar crises, such as Ukraine. With their assistance, HALO hopes to make Syria a safer place for its people once again.
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