NGO says unexploded ordnance undermines Syria’s food security
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Spread of unexploded ordnance seriously undermines Syria’s food security as it denies access to arable land, water sources, infrastructure, and exacerbates aid dependence, said Carter Center on Thursday.
The Carter Center, a nongovernmental organization that helps to improve lives by resolving conflicts, advancing democracy, and preventing diseases, added that the unexploded ordnance intensifies land degradation by contributing to the overcultivation of uncontaminated lands, leading to intensive farming practices that can degrade soil and deplete its nutrients. Overcultivation also depletes water resources and leads to soil erosion. All these factors further stress Syria’s already weakened food production capabilities.
The process of clearing areas of mines and unexploded ordnance in Syria is a long-term operation that may take decades of work under international supervision. In addition to the clearing, there are also accountability and investigation procedures that need to be undertaken to hold those who planted mines and committed war crimes accountable. However, the situation in Syria may be different due to the fact that it did not sign the Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Treaty), which means that perpetrators may enjoy impunity.
The Carter Center reports that from December 2012 to May 2021, 972,051 explosive munitions were used across Syria, with an estimated failure rate of 10 percent to 30 percent. This implies that 100,000 to 300,000 of these ordnance pieces remain undetonated and pose a significant risk to civilians.
The Monitoring and Documentation Department of North Press documented the killing and injury of 543 individuals in the first half of 2023, 70 percent of whom were civilians. Of those, 288 were killed and 255 were injured.
The World Bank notes significant sector damage to agricultural food chains, with record food and fuel prices worsened by continuous conflict, natural disasters, and global crises. With an estimated 12.1 million Syrians facing food insecurity and another 2.6 million on the brink of hunger, Syria ranks sixth globally for food insecurity, the Carter Center noted.
Despite increased stability and reduced conflict, the spread of unexploded ordnance still severely limits access to agricultural lands, water sources, and infrastructure. Consequently, the ongoing unexploded ordnance problem is a critical factor in reduced production and drives Syrians deeper into hunger.