Human Rights Watch expresses serious concerns regarding landmine injuries affecting civilians in Syria, urging the transitional government to take immediate protective measures. Interviews reveal severe impacts on victims, while the global death toll from antipersonnel mines continues to rise, indicating the widespread nature of this humanitarian crisis. The absence of Syria from the Ottawa Convention compounds the urgency of the situation.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised alarm regarding the pervasive issue of uncleared landmines and explosive remnants posing threats to civilians returning to Syria. The organization called upon the transitional government to implement effective strategies aimed at mitigating further harm to the population affected by such dangers.
HRW reported extensive land contamination in Syria due to antipersonnel landmines, cluster munitions, and various explosive devices deployed by the Assad government, its allies, and opposition groups throughout the Civil War, which spanned from 2011 to 2024. This contamination extends to numerous agricultural sectors, complicating recovery efforts.
Interviews conducted by HRW with landmine victims and their families reveal the profound psychological impact of these injuries. One victim’s mother articulated her son’s debilitating fear stemming from an incident at a military base where he was injured while handling explosive remnants, highlighting the severe consequences of such incidents on civilian well-being.
HRW has called for urgent initiatives by the transitional government, urging the establishment of a national and civilian-led mine action authority. The organization advocates collaboration with the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to aid in ongoing mine clearance efforts across the country.
The issue of civilian harm due to landmine contamination transcends Syria’s borders. The Landmine Monitor reported 833 global deaths from antipersonnel mines in 2023, indicating the highest annual figures since 2011, largely driven by casualties in Myanmar and Ukraine.
Landmines can be categorized into two types: anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines. The Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines, recognizes these mines as designed to detonate through human contact, leading to injury or death. This treaty mandates member states to neutralize all such mines within a designated timeframe. Notably, Syria remains a non-signatory to the Ottawa Convention.
Concerns have been amplified by the recent withdrawal of Poland and Baltic states from the Convention, suggesting a potential resurgence in landmine usage. According to experts Cordula Droege and Maya Brehm from the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), these developments jeopardize the safety of populations living in mine-affected regions, raising critical observation on the ongoing challenges to the prohibition of anti-personnel mines.
In conclusion, the ongoing issues of landmine contamination and resultant civilian injuries in Syria necessitate swift and decisive action from authorities. The concerns raised by Human Rights Watch highlight the critical need for a dedicated mine action authority to mitigate further civilian harm. Global statistics underscore that this is a widespread issue, yet, Syria’s non-participation in the Ottawa Convention exacerbates the situation. The international community must engage collaboratively to protect affected populations from these dangers.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
