Landmines and unexploded ordnance have injured or killed at least 188 children in Syria since December, according to Save the Children. The return of displaced families amplifies the risks, with experts estimating hundreds of thousands of undetonated munitions scattered across the country. The humanitarian crisis calls for immediate action to clear these remnants of war.
In a tragic report, the charity Save the Children revealed that since the overthrow of President Bashar Assad in December, landmines and unexploded ordnance in Syria have caused the deaths or injuries of at least 188 children. The organization noted that more than 60 children have died, and the number of casualties may increase as families return to the war-torn nation. The charity estimates that approximately two children are harmed daily due to these deadly remnants of war.
The United Nations reported that around 1.2 million people returned to Syria in the last three months, including over 885,000 who were previously internally displaced. Bujar Hoxha, the charity’s Syria director, emphasized the extensive danger posed by landmines, which results from over a decade of conflict, stating, “Much of Syria is pockmarked by mines and explosive remnants of war.”
In a related concern, the NGO Humanity and Inclusion highlighted that between 100,000 and 300,000 of the roughly one million munitions used in the war had failed to detonate. The dire situation escalated further last month when unexploded munitions ignited in a northwestern Syrian home, resulting in the deaths of at least eight civilians, including three children. The call for urgent clearing of these explosives has intensified from both the transitional authorities and the international community, as the safety of returning families hangs in the balance.
The ongoing effects of the Syrian civil war continue to claim innocent lives, particularly among children, highlighting the significant danger that landmines and unexploded ordnance pose as families attempt to rebuild their lives. Immediate action is urgently required to clear these hazardous remnants of conflict to ensure the safety of returning citizens.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
