Explosive hazards in Syria claim over 430 lives – OCHA
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Tuesday that more than 430 deaths and injuries have been recorded in Syria since December, with nearly one-third of the victims being children.
According to OCHA, farmers and herders constitute a significant portion of the casualties.
Since January, over 60 individuals have been killed and more than 90 others injured while working on their land or tending livestock.
The agency also noted that humanitarian teams recently completed a clearance operation in Darayya, a suburb of Damascus.
With support from the Syria Humanitarian Fund, an agricultural site was cleared of explosive remnants.
Explosive ordnance, including landmines planted by the former regime forces, Iranian-backed militias, and other remnants of war, continues to claim lives across Syria on a daily basis.
Since the start of the year, 138 contaminated sites have been identified, and over 1,400 unexploded ordnance items have been neutralized across the country, according to OCHA.