Press release

04 April 2024

 International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action

 

On 8 December 2005, the General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. This year, for 4 April, the United Nations in Syria would like to stress the need for enhancing protection of people who face the dangers of explosive hazard contamination every day, in both rural and urban areas throughout the country.

The presence of abandoned and unexploded bombs, mines, and improvised explosive devices is a serious threat to the safety of people living in or going to affected areas, even long after the conflict has ended. This contamination causes death and grave injuries, in addition to hampering access to services, homes and lands. Humanitarian workers are also exposed to this risk on a daily basis while providing life-saving assistance to people in need.

In Syria, millions of men, women, boys, and girls, are exposed to this danger. Providing explosive hazard risk education, Survey, clearance, and victim assistance is one of the main humanitarian priorities in Syria. This includes the prevention of risks through awareness raising, survey and clearance of affected areas, as well as addressing the needs of people who are affected, including survivors of explosive incidents who often sustain permanent life-changing injuries.

The Syrian conflict is one of the most devastating humanitarian crises of modern times. The extensive use of weapons has contaminated vast swathes of land with explosive ordnance including landmines, improvised explosive devices and other explosive remnants of war. While the full scale of contamination is not precisely known, based on preliminary findings for the 2024 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), approximately one in three communities in Syria is potentially contaminated with explosive ordnance.
“This year’s theme — Protecting Lives, Building Peace — reminds us of the need to safeguard those at particular risk, including people living with disabilities.” said UN Secretary-General.  “Country by country, community by community, let’s rid the world of these weapons, once and for all.” SG added.

Today, in Syria, the United Nations Mine Action Service, UN agencies ,INGOs and NGOs  acknowledge the day under the campaign “Protecting Lives. Building Peace”to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of the humanitarian community in Syria. 

Damascus, 4 April 2024