Damascus/London (dpa) – The British aid organization Halo Trust is calling for international efforts to clear the many landmines in Syria and make the country safer. “Returning Syrians simply don’t know where the landmines are lying and waiting.” “They are scattered across fields, villages and towns, leaving people at terrible risk,” says Halo Trust. There are currently “millions” of landmines and unexploded explosive devices and cluster munitions in Syria.
After 13 years of civil war, many areas of the country are still full of such weapons. They are a continuing threat to the people in the country as well as to hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who could return after the overthrow of ruler Bashar al-Assad. According to some estimates, it could take decades to clear all mines and explosive devices.
Damian O'Brien, who led the Syria program at Halo Trust, said he had never seen anything like Syria. “Tens of thousands pass through heavily mined areas every day, resulting in unnecessary fatal accidents.”
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