By Ali al-Beki’
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – In the Harabesh neighborhood of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, residents live under the constant threat of landmines planted on the mountain slopes. These mines, remnants of the former regime and Iranian militias, have yet to be cleared, continuing to claim lives and cause severe injuries.
The ongoing danger has turned everyday life into a nightmare, particularly for shepherds, who suffer the greatest losses. Deir ez-Zor, once a battleground for various armed factions, remains one of Syria’s most hazardous regions due to landmines and unexploded ordnance left behind by years of conflict.
“Our lives are in constant danger”
Jassem Mohammad al-Saleh, a resident of Harabesh, described the dire situation to North Press, stating that many people have lost their lives or suffered serious injuries due to these deadly explosives.
“We urgently need specialized demining teams to clear the area,” he said, calling on authorities to take immediate action to remove the mines that “threaten our lives every day.”
Omar Zuheir al-Nayef, a 22-year-old from Harabesh, shared his tragic experience after losing his leg in a landmine explosion. “I was climbing the mountain with my friends, and as I approached a military outpost, a mine exploded beneath my foot. I felt a massive shock and collapsed to the ground,” he recalled.
“My friends rushed to carry me home, and then I was taken to the hospital. That’s when I realized I had lost my right leg,” he added.
He is not the only victim. “Khaled, Saleh, and Jassem are among many others who have lost limbs because of these mines,” he said.
Omar emphasized that the mountain remains heavily contaminated with explosives, posing a severe threat to the entire community. “After losing my leg, my life changed completely. I can no longer walk as I used to and now rely on crutches,” he said.
“We just want to protect ourselves and our children. We dream of living a normal life without fearing every step we take on our own land,” he added.
A Mounting Crisis
For now, the residents of Harabesh remain trapped in a daily struggle for survival, hoping for urgent intervention to free them from this ongoing nightmare. They continue to call on authorities and humanitarian organizations to send specialized demining teams before more tragedies occur.
Alarming Statistics
According to statistics from the National Hospital in Deir ez-Zor, landmine explosions claimed 27 lives and caused 171 injuries in January and February of this year alone.
Mohammad al-Sultan, a member of Deir ez-Zor’s health committee, reported that 38 landmine explosions have occurred since the beginning of the year, with most incidents concentrated in the eastern countryside, particularly in seven villages.
He further noted that these incidents resulted in the deaths and injuries of 50 children, with 19 losing their lives.
In total, at least 40 people of various ages have been injured, with fatalities making up 30 percent of cases. Children between the ages of five and fifteen are the most affected, highlighting the severe risk faced by school-aged children.
Landmine explosions continue to pose a major threat to the lives of children in Deir ez-Zor, prompting activists to call for stronger local and international efforts to protect them and secure a safer future.