Syria records nearly 700 war remnants casualties in 2026- HALO Trust
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The HALO Trust said Wednesday that nearly 700 people have been killed or injured by mines and explosive remnants of war in Syria since the beginning of 2026, averaging one casualty every six hours.
Simon Jackson, the charity’s Syria program manager, said about one-third of the casualties this year were fatal, while children accounted for roughly one-third of all victims. More than 60% of recorded incidents occurred in agricultural or grazing areas.
Jackson said accidents surged in early 2025 as Syrians returned to their communities following the fall of the Assad government in December 2024. Returning residents have faced explosive remnants in homes, fields and other areas affected by years of conflict.
Since the fall of the Assad government, international organizations and NGOs coordinated through the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) have recorded at least 2,375 people killed or injured in incidents involving explosive remnants, including more than 850 children. The actual toll is believed to be higher because there is no central record of all accidents.
The Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor said in a preliminary report released in June that Syria recorded the world’s highest number of casualties from landmines and explosive remnants in 2025, with about 1,600 people killed or injured.
Specialized teams from the HALO Trust and other organizations are working with Syrian authorities to survey and clear contaminated areas. The HALO Trust said large earth barriers and trench systems along former frontlines can extend for hundreds of kilometers and contain mines and other explosive devices.
The continued presence of explosive remnants is also obstructing reconstruction and agricultural activity, Jackson said, noting that the contamination prevents residents from rebuilding homes and businesses and farmers from returning to their fields.
Jackson warned that even if the pace of clearance operations were doubled, it would take at least 10 years to address the problem, with the overall effort potentially requiring 20 to 30 years.
The HALO Trust, which has operated in Syria since 2017, says it has destroyed more than 12,000 explosive devices and trained hundreds of thousands of people on how to stay safe around unexploded ordnance.