The Ministry of Emergency and Disaster announced discussions of a plan with the transitional phase head, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to establish a national center for clearing war remnants and landmines left behind by the war in Syria.
The Minister of Emergency and Disaster, Raed al-Saleh, emphasized the importance of cooperation with local and international community organizations that have contributed to emergency and disaster response in Syria, to benefit from them in developing and implementing the plan, according to what was reported by the Syrian news agency (SANA) on Tuesday, May 6.
Meanwhile, the Director of Programs at the Syria Civil Defence organization, Ahmad Qaziz, pointed out that the Civil Defence’s role is not limited to emergency response but extends to participating in reconstruction and finding solutions for landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Reconstruction and landmines
Landmines and war remnants hinder citizens’ return to their affected areas due to the high risks of explosive remnants.
The reconstruction process is linked to several issues, including clearing debris from cities devastated by bombardment, as well as filling tunnels in the Jobar neighborhood that lead to building collapses in that area.
The debris removal process is halted due to landmines. Mahmoud Hilal, Director of the Urban Planning and Reconstruction Committee in Damascus, explained to Enab Baladi that debris removal cannot begin in certain areas before conducting a comprehensive survey and clearing these areas of war remnants and landmines.
Earlier, Mohammed Awata, a member of the Jobar Municipal Council, told Enab Baladi that the tunnels in Jobar pose an obstacle to the reconstruction of the area, as some contain war remnants, making filling them a difficult task that requires military cooperation to handle the remnants in a way that does not cause greater damage to the area. Initially, landmines and war remnants must be cleared, followed by filling the tunnels or using them in the reconstruction process.
European support for landmine clearance
On April 26, the acting head of the European Union Mission in Syria, Mikhail Unmacht, published on his account on the “X” platform that the European Union intends to fund landmine clearance activities in Syria, noting the need to raise awareness of the dangers of landmines in schools.
Over the past 14 years of conflict in Syria, landmines have been used by the Assad regime and other parties, such as the Islamic State and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
They are concentrated in areas with specific geographic characteristics, such as the Badia and agricultural lands, putting farmers at risk.
Almost daily, Syria records casualties from landmines across its territory, complicating agricultural work, safe returns to certain areas, and reconstruction efforts.
Landmines have killed and injured more than 600 people, including children, since December 2024, according to what Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on April 8.
In March, two young men were killed and another was missing due to the explosion of an anti-tank mine in the countryside of Latakia, one of three incidents of war remnants explosion that occurred in a single day.
Ministry of Emergency plans to establish a center for war remnants clearance Enab Baladi.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Ministry of Emergency plans to establish a center for war remnants clearance )
Also on site :
- Woman shot in bus terminal under Denver’s Union Station dies
- Libyan authorities reject report they will take in US deportees
- 9 Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin, According to Celebrity Estheticians