UN warns from unexploded ordnance killing children

“In the last nine years, at least 422,000 incidents involving unexploded ordnance – or UXO - were reported in 14 governorates across Syria,” said Perez.

Boys play at a reception center in Raqqa city in northern Syria. Their families recently returned to the country. (Photo: Muhannad Aldhaher/UNICEF)
Boys play at a reception center in Raqqa city in northern Syria. Their families recently returned to the country. (Photo: Muhannad Aldhaher/UNICEF)

Jan 15, 2025

Erbil (Kurdistan 24) – The United Nations (UN) on Tuesday warned about the rising number of children killed or injured by unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Syria, describing the situation as an ongoing threat. 

UN’s Emergency Communications Director, Ricardo Perez, stated, “every step they take carries the risk of an unimaginable tragedy”.

The UN’s official underscored that in December last year, 116 children were killed or injured by UXOs, an average of four children per day. He also noted that the actual numbers are likely higher due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the difficulty of reporting in areas affected by conflict, particularly after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime following 14 years of devastating war.

Perez pointed out that displacement and migration exacerbate the risks, with at least a quarter of a million children forced to flee their homes since Nov 27, 2024, due to escalating violence. For these children, and for those attempting to return to their homes, the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance remain constant and unavoidable.

The Syrian civil war has claimed the lives of more than half a million people and displaced millions. According to Perez, the country has yet to rid itself of the devastating remnants of war, including around 320,000 unexploded ordnances. This threat is particularly severe for the five million children living in high-risk areas filled with UXOs and landmines.

"Over the past nine years, at least 422,000 incidents related to unexploded ordnance have been recorded in 14 of Syria’s provinces, with half of those incidents resulting in severe casualties among children,” Perez explained.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is calling on the international community to invest in efforts to eliminate these deadly remnants of war.