In a recent report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised an alarm over the acute danger posed by uncleared landmines and explosive remnants in Syria, posing a significant threat to the safety of civilians returning to their homes. The organization has highlighted this critical issue, urging the transitional government to implement effective measures to mitigate harm.
Syria’s landscape, particularly its agricultural zones, remains heavily contaminated with antipersonnel landmines and other explosive devices, remnants from the prolonged 2011-24 civil war. According to HRW, these lethal remnants are attributed to the Assad government, its allies, and opposing armed factions. The organization has gathered testimonies from victims and their families, including a mother who recounted her son’s trauma after a landmine incident, leading to psychological repercussions such as panic attacks.
HRW has recommended the establishment of a national, civilian-led authority for mine action in Syria and stressed the importance of collaboration with the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to advance clearance efforts. This call comes amidst a broader global concern over landmine casualties. The Landmine Monitor recorded 833 global deaths from antipersonnel mines in 2023, highlighting major conflict zones like Myanmar and Ukraine.
The Ottawa Convention prohibits antipersonnel mines, mandating that signatory states clear mine-affected areas within a decade. However, Syria does not adhere to this treaty, further complicating the resolution of its landmine issues. Concerns have been further exacerbated by recent moves by Poland and the Baltic states to reconsider their participation in the convention, a development that has alarmed disarmament advocates about the potential return of landmine use in warfare.
Cordula Droege, a legal expert at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Maya Brehm have cautioned against these developments, underscoring that such challenges to the mine ban represent a renewed risk to civilian safety. The United Nations continues to advocate for comprehensive disarmament efforts to protect populations from the menace of explosive remnants.
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