Geneva: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Tuesday that approximately 320,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines have been scattered across Syria over the past decade, placing nearly 5 million children at significant risk.
According to Kuwait News Agency, UNICEF’s Emergency Communications Manager Ricardo Pires, speaking online from Damascus during a press briefing in Geneva, emphasized that these deadly remnants of war have become the leading cause of child casualties in Syria. “In December of last year alone, UNICEF received reports of 116 children killed or injured by UXO, an average of nearly four per day,” Pires stated.
He further disclosed that 422 UXO-related incidents were recorded across 14 Syrian governorates in December, with the real numbers likely being higher due to challenges in documenting incidents amidst ongoing instability. Survivors of such incidents often face lifelong struggles, including physical disabilities, limited access to education and healthcare, and the psychological toll of stigma and isolation.
Pires highlighted that while the danger of UXO is widespread across Syria, the most heavily contaminated areas include Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Idlib, and Damascus. He added that renewed displacement due to repeated conflicts has exacerbated the problem, with over 250,000 children forced to flee their homes since November 27. “As reconstruction efforts continue to be discussed and the international community prepares to help Syria pave a new path for children, it is imperative that immediate investment takes place to ensure the ground is safe and clear of explosives,” he urged.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder stressed the need for significant investments in UXO removal, calling the estimated tens of millions of dollars required a “small price” compared to the lives that could be saved and the stability that could be restored. “To ensure the safety of Syrian children, it is crucial to scale up mine-risk education programs, expand humanitarian demining efforts, and provide comprehensive support to survivors, including medical care rehabilitation and psychosocial services,” Elder emphasized.