In December 2024 alone, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) received reports of 116 children killed or injured by unexploded ordnance (UXO).
“We believe that this is an underestimate given the fluidity of the humanitarian situation on the ground,” Ricardo Pires, a spokesperson for the humanitarian organization, said at a press briefing in Geneva. ‘UNICEF.
Over the past nine years, at least 422,000 incidents involving these devices have been reported in 14 governorates of Syria. According to UNICEF, half of them resulted in tragic losses for children.
324,000 unexploded munitions scattered across Syria
“Across Syria, children face this lurking, often invisible and extremely deadly threat,” Pires added.
The increase in displacement only aggravates the danger. Since November 27, more than a quarter of a million children have been forced to flee their homes due to the escalating conflict. For these children, and for those trying to return to their areas of origin, the danger of unexploded ordnance is constant and unavoidable, underlines UNICEF.
After more than a decade of devastating conflict, Syrian communities are littered with the deadly aftermath of war, including an estimated 324,000 unexploded ordnance scattered across the country.
This danger affects around 5 million children living in areas contaminated by unexploded ordnance and landmines, which have become the leading cause of child mortality in Syria.
Play football and die after an explosion
Every step these children take carries the risk of an unimaginable tragedy for Syrian children. The UN Agency notably recalls the fate of Abdul, 12, who was playing football with friends on December 18 in a field behind his house, when one of them stepped on something shiny on the ground.
The ensuing explosion in this Hama suburb killed Abdul’s cousin, Mohamed, 15, and injured Abdul and his 10-year-old brother, who are now recovering from multiple broken legs and on the arms. “They can no longer walk without help. Both are deeply traumatized. Their stories are far too common,” recalled the UNICEF spokesperson, noting that three other children died after bringing home a grenade found in a playground, without knowing the deadly impact it could have. to have.
Even if children survive these blasts, the life-changing injuries and disabilities often mean they cannot return to school or make it more difficult to access appropriate health care. They face a new form of war, against isolation, stigma and limited opportunities.
Two boys sell bread on the streets of Aleppo in Syria.
Syrian children deserve to live the rest of their lives in safety
To make the lives of these children “a little more bearable”, UN agencies are encouraging the intensification of humanitarian demining efforts to eliminate the deadly remnants of war and make communities safe again. It is also about raising awareness about the dangers of mines so that children can recognize and avoid unexploded ordnance.
In addition to medical care, UNICEF is calling for rehabilitation and psychosocial services for survivors, so that they can regain their dignity and rebuild their lives. A way of reminding us that Syria will not be able to turn the page on this horrible war if children continue to run the risk of walking past their doors and being blown up by explosives.
“We owe it to these children to not only listen, but also to act. There is no hope of reconstruction in Syria while so much destruction still awaits on the ground. Every day without action is another day that threatens the children of Syria. These children, who have lived their entire lives in danger, deserve to live the rest of their lives in safety,” concluded the UNICEF spokesperson.
First visit to Syria by a UN human rights chief
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, arrived in Damascus on Tuesday and is then expected to travel to Lebanon, as part of a visit planned to the region from January 14 to 16, according to a press release of the UN.
Mr. Türk is scheduled to meet officials, as well as representatives of civil society organizations, members of the diplomatic corps and UN entities. This is the first visit by a UN human rights chief to Syria, and the second such visit to Lebanon since 2002, the text said.
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has allowed access to Syria for many international officials in recent weeks.
Millions of people still displaced
Furthermore, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) recalls today that 13 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011.
Despite the glimmer of hope brought by the overthrow of Bashar Al-Assad, the recent offensive that brought down the regime has also displaced an additional 1.1 million people, 20% of whom had already been forced to flee their home at least once since 2011. Currently, only half of the newly displaced people have managed to return home.
“Even before these most recent upheavals, there were more than 7 million internally displaced Syrians,” says the UNHCR, which is developing a house rehabilitation program to help displaced Syrians live in safety, warmth and dignity in their return home.
In addition to the internally displaced, there are millions of Syrian refugees outside the country, for whom deciding the appropriate time to return home is “a difficult process fraught with pitfalls”, underlines the agency.
In this context, explains UNHCR, “Interventions as simple as replacing doors and windows in damaged homes can help make return a more viable and sustainable option.”
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