Landmine kills three men in Hama countryside

HAMA COUNTRYSIDE, Syria – Three young men were killed Monday evening when a landmine, a remnant of the country's decade-long conflict, exploded as they were harvesting olives north of Qamhana village. The victims were part of a family attempting to reclaim their farmland after years of displacement.

The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, reported that its teams transported the victims' bodies from Al-Amouri Hospital to their families' homes in Al-Awja village for burial.

This tragic incident is a stark example of a widespread humanitarian disaster. The remnants of war, including landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and unexploded ordnance (UXO), continue to threaten the lives of civilians and disrupt their daily lives, in addition to preventing many residents from returning to their homes and farms in large areas of Syria.

A Crisis of Scale and Scope

The scale of contamination is immense. According to a 2023 report by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), Syria is one of the most heavily contaminated countries in the world. It is estimated that over 10 million people live in areas affected by explosive ordnance.

The impact is particularly severe on agricultural communities and those trying to return home. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) notes that farmland, along with residential areas, infrastructure, and roads, is among the most contaminated. This not only causes tragic loss of life but also cripples food production and economic recovery.

The Human Cost Beyond the Blast

While immediate fatalities are devastating, the long-term consequences are equally dire. Data from the Syrian Network for Human Rights indicates that explosive remnants have killed and injured thousands of civilians since the peak of the conflict, with a significant percentage being children. In 2022 alone, the UN recorded hundreds of casualties from such incidents, and the actual figure is believed to be higher due to underreporting.

Beyond the physical harm, this contamination acts as a major barrier to the safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Many fear returning to homes they know are surrounded by unseen threats, perpetuating the cycle of displacement for millions.

A Daunting Clearance Effort

Mine clearance operations in Syria are described by experts as among the most complex and dangerous globally. The sheer volume of debris, the variety of ordnance used by multiple factions, and a lack of comprehensive mapping make systematic clearance a monumental task. Organizations like the Syrian Mine Action Center, in cooperation with international NGOs, are working to clear land, but they are severely under-resourced and face immense logistical challenges.

The explosion in Qamhana is a grim reminder that even as active combat recedes, the dangers of the war remain buried in the soil, claiming lives and hindering any hope for a normal future long after the guns have fallen silent.