War-remnants removal and mine-action teams at Syria’s Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management carried out 981 operations to remove unexploded ordnance and 369 non-technical survey operations during the first half of 2026.
The teams also organized 631 awareness sessions aimed at increasing public understanding of the dangers posed by remnants of war and ways to avoid them.
Specialized teams destroyed munitions and other remnants of war in accordance with approved procedures intended to protect civilians and preserve their safety.
According to the ministry, these efforts are part of work to secure affected sites and verify that they are free of remnants of war, helping create conditions for civilians to return safely to their homes and reducing threats to their lives.
Ahmed Yazji, director of the Department of War Remnants Removal and Mine Action at the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, told Enab Baladi that removal teams receive direct reports every day from residents returning to their homes. Survey and response operations begin immediately after the reports are received, he said.
Yazji added that numerous government bodies request surveys of schools, hospitals, electricity networks, and public service infrastructure. He said the scale of the work is significant and requires time, effort, and coordination among different bodies to accelerate clearance operations and secure residents’ return to their cities and villages.
Mine and unexploded ordnance clearance operations cover most Syrian governorates. According to Yazji, Hama, Aleppo, and Idlib governorates account for the largest share of the operations because of their high levels of contamination and because they are populated areas experiencing an increasing number of returning residents.
He added that intensive efforts are also underway in Deir Ezzor governorate (eastern Syria) because mines and unexploded ordnance are widely dispersed there.
About 70 People Killed or Injured Since Start of Year
Despite continuing efforts to remove mines and unexploded ordnance, civilians remain at risk, particularly as residents return to their areas. This increases the need for stronger awareness measures and faster clearance operations.
Yazji said casualties continue to be recorded almost daily because residents are returning to their communities while many remain unaware of the dangers posed by mines and remnants of war.
He said work is underway to launch an expanded national awareness campaign targeting every governorate and social group, including farmers, people returning from outside Syria, teachers, and students. The campaign aims to reach the largest possible number of people and increase awareness of mine risks and the proper ways to respond to them.
About 70 people have been killed or injured by mines and unexploded ordnance since the beginning of 2026, Yazji said. He added that approximately 80% of Syrian territory remains contaminated by remnants of war.
The contamination is the result of the large quantities of munitions dropped and mines planted during the years of war.
Yazji said coordination is continuing with relevant ministries and government bodies, including the ministries of agriculture, education, public works and housing, and energy, to conduct surveys at sites designated for infrastructure projects.
Work is also being conducted in close coordination with the Syrian national center responsible for preparing the comprehensive strategic plan and distributing tasks, as well as with international and local organizations operating in the sector, according to Yazji.
Conference Coordinates Mine Action in Syria
A conference for organizations involved in mine clearance in Syria was held in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 22, with the participation of a Syrian government delegation, international partners, and donor organizations.
The conference sought to provide a platform bringing together the Syrian government, donors, and implementing partners to develop a shared understanding of national needs and priorities related to mines and unexploded ordnance.
It also aimed to strengthen coordination among organizations working in the sector, reduce the duplication of similar efforts and programs, and identify practical courses of action that could accelerate results for affected communities, particularly in areas experiencing the return of displaced residents and the resumption of agricultural and public service activities.