After years of displacement, more than 1.3 million Syrians have returned home in the past six months, with many more expected to arrive now that schools are out for the summer. Parents are eager to rebuild their lives. Children are ready to run through their neighborhoods again. But across Syria, deadly remnants of war remain hidden beneath rubble, farmland, and schoolyards.
Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, over 1,000 civilians have been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded bombs. One in every three victims is a child.
“Syria is now the most dangerous country in the world for civilian accidents caused by explosives, so as schools across the region close their doors for the summer holidays, we are expecting a sharp uptick in explosives accidents as families return to land littered with landmines and the remnants of war."
"Calls to our emergency hotline in and around Idlib have increased tenfold since December, and we are prepared for them to escalate over the coming months, particularly in urban areas where explosives lie concealed in the rubble of destroyed buildings. During the summer break, thousands more children will also be outside playing in the streets, boosting the risk of maiming or death as they pick up shiny objects or step on hidden munitions," said Simon Jackson, HALO Syria Program Manager.
In late May, tragedy struck the community of Al-Merei’iye near Deir ez-Zor. In just five days, four children lost their lives after encountering explosive devices in debris near their homes. According to Médecins Sans Frontières, at the nearby Deir ez-Zor National Hospital, half the patients treated for blast injuries this spring were children.
HALO’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team responds to community reports of suspected explosives in northwest Syria.
On arrival, the team inspects and safely removes the munition, preventing injury or death and restoring safety to the area.
HALO’s small but determined team is working tirelessly to prevent more deaths. They lead risk education classes for families and children in hard-hit areas and carry out lifesaving clearance operations, destroying landmines, cluster bombs, and other explosive threats.
Risk education teams tour the frontline villages, teaching adults and children about the devices of which they need to beware. In classrooms, they use songs and puppets to teach the youngest to report anything they find. They also stop for impromptu sessions – for example, in a field with children tending sheep and goats. Herder communities that travel across this contaminated land are particularly vulnerable.
Until every landmine is cleared, education is the first line of defense. And HALO is committed to reaching as many families as possible before tragedy can strike.
Children attend a risk education class in Taqad, Syria.
Support from private donors is critical to our mission. At this time, The HALO Trust and The HALO Trust (USA), Inc are unable to accept online donations designated for Syria through our website. To make a donation to support our work in Syria, you can mail a check to The HALO Trust USA, 1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Suite 206; Washington, DC 20036. To donate by bank transfer, stock, or for other ways to give, please contact us at donorservices@halousa.org.
The HALO Trust conducts operations in Northwest Syria in strict accordance with US sanctions policies. HALO is deeply committed to maintaining compliance with US sanctions policy and all other legal requirements. For any additional information on our compliance processes please contact us at mail@halousa.org.
