Demining in Syria

Problems

• The use of land mines in Syria

  Since the beginning of the popular movement in Syria on March 2011,15, tens of thousands of civilians have lost their lives as a result of bombings, chemical weapons, cluster munitions, barrel bombs, and other military weapons used in the conflict. The risks looming over Syrians for more than ten years are not limited to the military operations carried out and the weapons used by the Syrian regime’s forces, Russian forces, and other armed groups, but also include another lethal weapon that is almost as deadly as the direct military operations: landmines. 
  
  At the beginning of the popular movement, the Syrian regime used mines and explosive devices to terrify people and force them to abstain from attending demonstrations that demanded the overthrow of the regime. In turn, the regime forces planted explosive devices in residential areas where there were regular gatherings, or in garbage containers near schools. Later, the internal situation in Syria deteriorated and the popular movement expanded in various cities. As some units in the army defected, joined the demonstrators, and controlled certain areas, the regime began to bomb these areas with various types of weapons, including naval mines. Although these were usually used to protect national waters, and coastal areas, thwart landing operations, or stop crossing enemy warships; the regime forces used naval mines to bomb civilians in many Syrian cities, especially between 2015 and 2016. However, many of them did not explode and remain as lethal landmines.

• Local deaths due to ISIS actions

  Many armed groups also used landmines, chiefly the Islamic State Organization (ISIS). In addition to naval mines, many other kinds of deadly landmines were planted in most of the densely populated areas across the Syrian governorates that have experienced unrest and claimed the lives of hundreds of defenseless civilians. Some of the landmines are known locally as Al–Mascara (ruler), Al-Misbaha (rosary), Hajar (stone), Al-Lizar (laser), and Al-Doussa, which are hidden landmines that explode when touched, pressured or triggered. There are still large numbers of unexploded objects and landmines between civilian homes and in agricultural lands to this day that were left from past extended military operations. , They will remain posing danger for years and decades to come. With the presence of this ammunition all over the country, there have been losses on a colossal scale, even after the war ended. There will be many more if this sensitive issue is not urgently addressed by the competent authorities and the cooperative parties involved in the conflict. To eliminate mines scattered in the Syrian territories, the Syrian government and the United Nations signed in July 2018, a memorandum of understanding to support Damascus’s efforts in the framework of demining. The UN spokeswoman in Damascus at the time, Fadwa Baroud, said that the UN estimates indicate that 10.2 million people living in 1,980 communities are at risk of the explosive remains of war in Syria.
  
  
  The various parties in the Syrian conflict are involved in laying mines to varying degrees. However, the greatest responsibility lies with the Syrian regime forces, considering the military equipment and the diverse armament they possess, which includes multiple types of Russian-made mines. A number of these types are only owned by the regime’s forces, such as the navy mines that were dropped from their helicopters. However, other parties have also been involved in laying mines across various Syrian cities that have witnessed military operations.

• Demining

  Demining activities are not just about destroying landmines on the ground. It includes prioritizing efforts to protect populations from danger, helping victims become self-sufficient and active members of their communities, and providing opportunities for stability and sustainable development.
  The goal of my action is to identify and reduce the impact and risks of landmines and explosive hazards to a level that is safe for people.
  Mine action is a humanitarian need in Syria. The scale, severity, and complexity of the explosive ordnance threat in Syria remain a major protection concern, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and the vulnerability of civilians in affected areas.
  According to the 2022 Humanitarian Needs Survey, 10.2 million men, women, and children are at risk of explosive contamination, including items such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), land mines, and other explosive remnants of war (ERW).
  Destruction and contamination of residential areas and critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools, and roads, prevent civilians from accessing basic services and the safe return of displaced persons. Explosive ordnance is a deadly obstacle to the movement, and delivery of humanitarian aid, and endangers those seeking refuge from violence.

• Consequences related to landmines and explosive remnants of war

  Landmines and explosive remnants of war kill or injure thousands of people every year. In addition to human casualties, they:
  
  ● result in road closures, prevent children from attending school and farmers from working the land;
  ● hinder economic and social development;
  ● deprive people of their livelihoods;
  ● undermine the process of post-war reconstruction;
  ● block the safe deployment of peacekeepers and humanitarian aid.
  
  Landmines and unexploded cluster bombs are just as likely to kill children and soldiers indiscriminately. They continue to kill even after all hostilities have ceased.