The report is authored by the Mine Action Area of Responsibility (MA AoR) Syria Response, which cooperates with the Syria Protection Cluster. This unit is led by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and by Humanity & Inclusion (HI). The UNMAS aim is to eliminate the threat of mines and explosive weapons and it is an UN specialized agency operating under the mandate of the General Assembly and the Security Council. The HI is an independent organization whose aim is to raise awareness about poverty and conflict situations. MA AoR unifies 38 partners that are aiming at reducing the risk of explosive ordnance (EO) contamination in Syria, committed to four key pillars: explosive ordnance risk education (EORE), survey and clearance, victim assistance, and advocacy.
Methodology
The report was drafted based on extensive data collection and analysis. The partners carried out field operations across Syria, including non-technical surveys (NTS) in ten villages, including Abu Assi, Al-Salhabiya, and Mansoura. To collect data, these partners were involved in clearance efforts and victim assistance initiatives to neutralize the risk of immediate explosive weapons, as it happened in Raqqa City. The primary objective of their data-collection was to assess the current level of EO contamination, identify high-risk areas, and outline urgent intervention needs. The report also aims to provide evidence from which a strategic planning and resource allocation can be drafted.
Key findings
The key findings of the report highlight the severity of the EO threat in Syria. According to the experts, around 10-30% of all the EO didn’t explode in Syria, creating a risk for civilians. EOs were found in agricultural fields, roads and other infrastructures such as schools. In December 2024, a population-led movement raised awareness of the situation and aid workers started to demine and remove the unexploded EO. This happened because in the period between December 2024 and January 2025, the number of unexploded ordnance (UXO) incidents tripled compared to the previous three months, resulting in over 149 deaths and 257 injuries. The report stresses the widespread contamination affecting agricultural lands, infrastructure, and residential areas, making daily life perilous for civilians. The categories more at risk are men, especially farmers, and children, mostly because of EO in schoolyards or in the streets. Efforts in Northwest Syria, Northwest Syria explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams led operations that destroyed 1,476 explosive items, while in Central and South Syria, teams identified almost 24 million square meters of contaminated land in Duma and Darratya. In Northeast Syria, teams delivered Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) sessions in high-risk areas in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Hasakeh governorates, for both adults and children, providing thousands of displaced individuals with life-saving knowledge.
Conclusions and Recommendations
The report urges the necessity to increase the efforts in the demining operations as it “restricts the safe movement of people to basic services”, including to get aid in hospitals and water supply. It recommends increasing funding, as mine is the most underfunded sector. According to the Humanitarian Funding Forecast, funding in 2025 is expected to range from $131 million to $309 million, with a central estimate of $202 million, compared to 2024, when the sector received only $167 million. Moreover, there is an imperative for enhanced coordination and information sharing to facilitate the augmentation of survey and clearance operations. This is predicated on the recognition that the situation in Syria has given rise to a paucity of physical rehabilitation and associated services. Thus, there is a need for an increase in assistance for victims and the expansion of EORE to prevent further casualties, especially considering that a large portion of the population will return to their homes. However, without immediate action, the safety and well-being of the Syrian population will remain at significant risk.
