Syrian Families Return Home to Landmines
CISR
This headline is brought to you by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (CISR) which works to support resilience and recovery in global communities affected by war and conflict.
(The National) In Syria, landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) pose a severe threat to civilians as they return to homes abandoned during the civil war. Since the fall of Bashar Al-Assad, 80 civilians, including children, have died due to mines. The HALO Trust, the world’s largest landmine clearance charity, warns that millions of mines remain hidden, with no comprehensive records of their locations. Children are particularly vulnerable, mistaking explosives for scrap metal.
The charity has begun risk education in schools, but widespread coverage remains a challenge. A hotline has been established for reporting mines, and HALO is appealing for funding to expand demining operations, estimated at $40 million annually. Since 2011, over 3,353 civilians, including 889 children, have died from mines in Syria. HALO's work aims to save lives, restore Syria’s economy, and ensure safe homecomings for displaced families, but the road to a mine-free Syria remains long and costly.
