Landmines, Cluster Munitions Kill Over 3,000 Civilians in Syria Since 2011, Says Human Rights Group
(MENAFN) Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, landmine explosions have claimed the lives of 3,353 civilians in Syria, according to the UK-based Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR). The SNHR released the report to coincide with the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. Of the victims, 889 were children and 335 were women. The death toll also included journalists, medics, and civil defense volunteers. The rights group also reported that cluster munition remnants from attacks by Regime and Russian forces caused the deaths of 382 civilians.
The Syrian conflict began in early 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime responded to pro-democracy protests with brutal force. Since then, the conflict has escalated into a vicious civil war that has left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced more than 10 million people, according to UN estimates. The use of landmines and cluster munitions in the conflict has caused devastating impacts on civilians, particularly in areas where fighting has been most intense. Many of the weapons used in the conflict continue to pose a threat long after the fighting has ended.
The SNHR called on all parties to the conflict to stop using landmines and cluster munitions and to clear areas of these weapons to ensure the safety of civilians. They also called for the international community to provide greater support for mine action activities in Syria to help remove these deadly remnants of war. The report highlights the need for continued efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of landmines and cluster munitions and to promote mine risk education programs to reduce the number of civilian casualties caused by these weapons.
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