The Deadly Debris of War in Syria

In the years since conflict began in Syria in 2011, the world has watched in horror as villages, towns and cities have been reduced to rubble. Families have been torn apart and forced to flee their homes; children have grown up amidst a torrent of bombs and gunfire.

Few areas, if any, have escaped the deadly debris of war; landmines, cluster bombs and explosives are strewn through homes and streets. According to the UN, more than ten million people in Syria are at risk of harm.

“Our biggest priority is to educate kids to stop them picking up pieces of explosive debris that might detonate in their hands.”

Simon Conway, Director of Capability, HALO

Our Work

HALO is working with Syrian humanitarian organisations to teach families how to stay safe when they return home and begin to rebuild their lives. We are also mapping landmine accident data, to inform future clearance.

Sadly, thousands of Syrians have already suffered horrendous injuries from the debris of war. In 2017, the World Health Organisation estimated over 86,000 accidents had led to amputation; today the figure is likely to be far higher. With the Syrian healthcare system already under strain, many victims receive little or no assistance. HALO has therefore introduced an Amputee Survivor Assistance Project, working with Syrian organisations to provide prosthetics to children and adults so they can regain their independence.

This project has been funded by EU Humanitarian Aid as well as the generous supporters of our Walk for Syria in 2018 and Joanna Lumley’s Radio 4 Appeal.

Teaching people how to stay safe

Victim assistance

OUR IMPACT

“Our partners visited a school to give a risk education lesson. At the end of the session two small children approached them, unzipped their backpacks and emptied the contents onto a desk. Their backpacks were full of cluster bombs. They had just been taught not to pick up explosive debris and they had backpacks full of them.”

Alannah Ellis, programme officer, HALO

Our risk education is vital, particularly for children, whose curiosity can easily lead them into danger. They are taught how to recognise dangerous items and what to do if they see something suspicious.