Damascus: A year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, tens of thousands of Syrians returning home are confronting not only the ruins of their neighborhoods and collapsed services but also a perilous landscape fraught with unexploded ordnance. This hazardous environment is one of the most heavily contaminated in the world, posing an ongoing threat to those trying to rebuild their lives.
According to Anadolu Agency, Joseph McCartan, chief of the mine action program of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Syria, highlighted the extensive contamination of explosive ordnance concentrated in areas that experienced heavy fighting. These regions, which include former front lines, are now experiencing increased civilian movement, making the threat even more acute.
Syria ranks among the world's most contaminated countries, with mine experts estimating that over 1 million munitions have been deployed since 2011, many of which failed to detonate. These unexploded munitions are now buried beneath soil, rubble, and farmland, posing significant risks to civilians returning to these areas.
McCartan emphasized the widespread impact of this contamination on civilian life, affecting agricultural land, roads, irrigation systems, water and electricity networks, hospitals, schools, bridges, riverbeds, residential neighborhoods, and commercial areas. According to the Landmine Monitor 2024, 933 people were either killed or injured in explosive incidents last year, with only Myanmar experiencing a higher casualty rate.
Preliminary figures suggest a further increase in serious accidents this year, as the large-scale return of refugees and internally displaced people after December 2024 has exposed more individuals to explosive hazards. From December 8, 2024, to November 21, 2025, UNMAS recorded 849 explosive ordnance accidents, resulting in 1,568 casualties, including 581 deaths and 987 injuries. The victims comprised 380 men, 38 women, and 163 children killed, with 526 men, 30 women, and 412 children injured.
The increase in casualties is attributed to heightened population movement into contaminated areas. McCartan noted that the real toll is likely much higher due to chronic underreporting, with families returning to destroyed homes where explosive ordnance remains hidden under the rubble.
McCartan identified the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Aleppo, and Idlib as the most dangerous areas in Syria, reflecting years of intense fighting and repeated displacement. Deir ez-Zor recorded 180 incidents resulting in 131 deaths and 197 injuries. In Aleppo, 96 people were killed, and 164 injured in 139 incidents, while Idlib witnessed 83 deaths and 150 injuries in 126 incidents. He warned that contamination could lead to 'secondary displacement,' as communities are forced to flee again when they cannot safely cultivate land, rebuild homes, or access essential services.
Particularly vulnerable are farmers and those cultivating land, as they often work in fields where contamination levels are unknown. Children are also at high risk, especially in urban and semi-urban areas where families collect scrap metal to earn income. McCartan noted that children are frequently impacted by accidents related to scrap metal, which is linked to poor economic conditions.
Families returning to damaged homes face additional dangers, as explosives may be hidden under rubble, beneath collapsed structures, or inside abandoned buildings. Syria's contamination includes both conventional and improvised weapons, such as cluster munitions, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and anti-personnel minefields, seriously impeding access to vital services and livelihood opportunities.
The scale and complexity of contamination, population density, ongoing conflict, and limited resources make Syria a particularly challenging environment for mine action. McCartan noted that explosive hazards are found in homes, under rubble, in schools, hospitals, agricultural fields, and main roads, significantly increasing the risk to both deminers and civilians. The extensive debris complicates the detection of unexploded ordnance, and without a comprehensive survey, planning clearance operations remains difficult.
UNMAS is working with partners to develop a clearer map of contamination, but challenges persist, including limited funding and equipment delays linked to sanctions. Restrictions hinder the timely import of essential mine action equipment, and easing these limitations is crucial. McCartan also highlighted that annual short-term funding prevents the long-term planning necessary for effective mine action.
Identifying contaminated areas remains a significant challenge. While some groups have left minefield maps, a comprehensive digital database is still incomplete. Despite ongoing security concerns and challenges, McCartan stated that mine action teams are well-received in communities and operate freely.