Explosive ordnance kill 9, including 6 children across Syria in week – OCHA
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Explosive ordnance incidents in Syria over the past week killed nine people, including six children, and injured 13 others, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday.
OCHA reported that a dozen incidents were recorded across six Syrian governorates, highlighting the continued risks posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war to civilians, their livelihoods and movement.
The report added that the deadliest incident occurred on Aug. 31 in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, where a landmine detonated under a civilian vehicle, killing five children and injuring three other civilians.
Moreover, Raqqa Governorate recorded the highest number of incidents during the week, underscoring the continuing danger posed by explosive remnants of war in northern Syria.
Since Dec. 8, 2024, more than 1,400 explosive ordnance incidents have been documented across Syria, causing nearly 2,500 civilian casualties, including 880 deaths, according to OCHA.
More than two-thirds of the incidents occurred in agricultural and grazing areas, posing particular risks to farmers, herders and people travelling between villages.
Mine-action partners say expanding risk education, clearance operations and assistance for victims is essential to reduce civilian casualties and enable communities to safely return to their homes, the report said.