Human Rights Watch highlights the threat of uncleared landmines in Syria affecting returning civilians. Urging the transitional government to take action, HRW stresses the need for a civilian-led mine action authority and collaboration with UNMAS. The issue extends globally, with rising landmine injuries noted in 2023. Experts warn that recent withdrawals from the Ottawa Convention jeopardize global anti-landmine efforts.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently voiced serious concerns about the dangers posed by uncleared landmines and explosive remnants to civilians returning to Syria. The organization called upon the transitional government to take decisive action to mitigate these risks and safeguard civilians.
HRW revealed that substantial portions of Syria, including agricultural lands, are heavily contaminated by antipersonnel landmines and various explosive devices, which were deployed by the Assad regime, its allies, and opposition forces throughout the ongoing civil conflict since 2011.
Victims and their families have shared harrowing accounts, including one mother whose son has developed severe anxiety and panic attacks after sustaining injuries from explosive remnants he encountered while playing. The child had thrown these remnants into a fire, resulting in a violent explosion that caused him harm.
The rights group has urged the transitional Syrian government to prioritize the establishment of a national, civilian-led mine action authority and collaborate closely with the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to enhance clearance efforts throughout the nation.
The issue of civilian injuries from landmines is global, as evidenced by the Landmine Monitor’s report of 833 fatalities worldwide from antipersonnel mines in 2023, marking the highest number in over a decade. Most casualties were reported in Myanmar and Ukraine, accounting for 553 and 151 deaths, respectively.
Landmines are categorized into two types: anti-personnel and anti-vehicle. Anti-personnel mines, which are banned under the Ottawa Convention, are designed to injure or kill individuals upon detection. This convention mandates the destruction of such mines within ten years, but Syria has not signed this treaty.
Concerns have intensified following the withdrawal of Poland and other Baltic states from the Ottawa Convention, signaling a potential resurgence in landmine usage. Legal experts from the International Committee of Red Cross, Cordula Droege and Maya Brehm, highlighted that such challenges to the ban on anti-personnel mines pose significant risks to affected populations.
In summary, Human Rights Watch emphasizes the critical danger posed by landmines and explosive remnants in Syria, urging immediate action from the transitional government to protect civilians. The global context reflects a troubling rise in landmine casualties, necessitating renewed commitment to international norms against their use. The situation remains dire, especially given the withdrawal of key states from the Ottawa Convention, which could jeopardize the progress made toward eliminating such weapons.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
