Protecting Syria's Children From Landmines And Unexploded Ordnance
After 14 years of brutal conflict in Syria, an estimated 5 million children are living in high-risk areas where deadly landmines and unexploded ordnance threaten every step they take outside their homes.
Children attend an awareness session about the risk of explosive ordnance at a UNICEF-supported child-friendly space in Deir-ez-Zor city, northeast Syria, on Feb. 6, 2024. Twelve-year-old Asma, far right, says walking to school became a nightmare after a friend's brother brought home a strange metal object he found in the street. It exploded, injuring both of his sisters. Luckily both girls survived. A UNICEF-supported education program helped Asma overcome her fears and learn how to stay safe.
Abdul, 12, was playing football with friends in a field behind his house in Hama, Syria when one of them stepped on something shiny on the ground. The blast that followed killed Abdul's 15-year-old cousin Mohamed and injured Abdul and his 10-year-old brother, who sustained multiple fractures to their legs and arms. They can no longer walk without help. Both are deeply traumatized.
Their stories are far too common. Over the past nine years, more than 422,000 incidents involving unexploded ordnance (UXO) have been reported in 14 Governorates across Syria, with half estimated to have ended in tragic child casualties. Across the country, children face this lurking, often invisible and extremely deadly threat.
More than a decade of devastating conflict has left communities across Syria littered with an estimated 324,000 pieces of UXO — bombs, mortars, grenades, missiles or other devices. UNICEF continues to push for increased humanitarian demining efforts to remove deadly remnants of war and make communities safe again.
UNICEF-supported risk education programs teach communities and children how to recognize and avoid landmines and UXO. Children who attend awareness sessions become familiar with the common types and shapes of explosive ordnance and learn to stay away from strange-looking objects. They also receive psychosocial support and psychological first aid to help them cope with the fear and trauma they experience after seeing friends killed and injured by explosive devices.
Learn more about UNICEF's work for children in Syria.
Sisters Asma, 12, and Sama, 10, walk to school in Deir-ez-Zor city, northeast Syria. After friends were injured by an explosive remnant of war, the girls' mother found a UNICEF-supported child-friendly space where they received psychosocial support to help them handle their fears and education on how to stay safe from unexploded ordnance. Now Asma moves through her neighborhood with confidence, and plans to become the director of a child-friendly space when she grows up.
In 2025, UNICEF plans to reach more than 653,000 children and caregivers with landmine or other explosive weapons prevention and/or survivor assistance interventions. More funding is urgently needed.
"There is no hope for reconstruction in Syria when there is so much destruction still lying in wait on the ground," UNICEF Communication Manager Ricardo Pires said in January 2025. 'Syria cannot move past this horrific war if children remain at risk of walking outside their doors and being blown up by explosives.'
'There is no hope for reconstruction in Syria when there is so much destruction still lying in wait on the ground.'
"Every day without action is another that threatens the children of Syria," Pires continued. "These children — who have lived their entire lives in danger — deserve to live the rest of their lives in safety."
Right now, the lives of the most vulnerable children hang in the balance as conflicts and crises jeopardize the care and protection that they deserve. Dependable, uninterrupted and effective foreign aid is critical to the well-being of millions of children. Please contact your members of Congress and urge them to support ongoing U.S. investments in foreign assistance.
Your contribution to UNICEF is 100 percent tax deductible. Please donate.
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