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August 2022
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Mines
August 18, 2022

Mines: A Threat That Persists Beyond Conflict

The effects of conflict do not end when the sound of fighting stops. Many communities continue to face a silent danger hidden beneath the ground. Mines and unexploded ordnance do not distinguish between a child, a shepherd, or a farmer, and can turn an ordinary moment into a tragedy that changes an entire family’s life.

In the Jalamda area of Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Majid Al-Hussein experienced this tragedy.

One of his relatives, who was with him on the day of the incident, recalls:

“On a spring morning, I went out with my cousin Majid to graze the sheep, as we always did. Everything seemed normal until we decided to go to a nearby piece of land to collect some branches for a fire. While Majid was gathering firewood, a huge explosion suddenly occurred. In an instant, everything changed. I found Majid lying on the ground, seriously injured. I had no way to call for help except by shouting. After a few minutes, a car passing nearby stopped, and we took him to the nearest health center. But the doctors told us that he had died from his injuries.”

Those moments have remained in the witness’s memory to this day, just as the grief has remained in the heart of a family that lost one of its members in an incident that could have been prevented if the land had been safe.

Majid’s story is not an isolated case. It represents the reality faced by thousands of civilians in conflict-affected areas, where mines and explosive remnants of war continue to threaten their lives and prevent them from carrying out basic daily activities such as herding, farming, or going to school.

By admin
Mines
August 18, 2022

Laith… When an Explosive Device Changed the Course of a Life

For Laith, displacement was not simply about leaving his home in the village of Jarmiz in the Hasakah countryside; it was the beginning of a journey marked by loss. As events escalated and ISIS entered the area, he and his family were forced to leave their village in search of a safer place.

But the road to safety was not safe.

During their displacement, one of the explosive devices planted along the road detonated, changing his life in an instant. Laith lost consciousness due to the force of the explosion and did not wake up until days later in a hospital.

Laith recalls those moments:

“When I regained consciousness, I had a strange feeling. I tried to move my leg, but I realized that I had lost it. At first, I could not comprehend what had happened. All I could think about was: How will I continue my life? How will I adapt to this new reality?”

Before the incident, Laith was a student who aspired to continue his education and support his family of twelve. However, the explosion changed the course of his life and forced him to face new challenges he had never imagined.

Laith’s story is not an exception. It represents the reality faced by hundreds of civilians injured by mines, explosive devices, and explosive remnants of war, which continue to spread across fields, roads, and homes in conflict-affected areas, threatening civilian lives even after the fighting has stopped.

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By admin
Mines
August 18, 2022

When Explosive Remnants of War Impose a New Reality

The suffering of communities affected by conflict does not end when the fighting stops. Mines and unexploded ordnance continue to threaten civilian lives and leave consequences that can last for years after the conflict has ended.

Hassan is one of those civilians whose life changed in an instant.

After returning to his area following the end of the conflict, Hassan went out to check the surroundings of his home, unaware that a hidden danger still lay beneath the ground.

Hassan recalls what happened:

“I was walking near my home after the conflict in our area had ended when I suddenly heard a powerful explosion. I do not remember what happened afterward. I regained consciousness days later in the hospital, where doctors told me that I had lost my right leg.”

He continues:

“The physical pain was not the hardest part. What was more difficult was thinking about my new life. I kept wondering how I would continue working and how I would take care of my children and my family. I felt that I had lost my ability to fulfill the role I had always played in supporting my family.”

Before the incident, Hassan worked to support his family. Today, he is no longer able to work as he did before, and crutches have become his primary means of mobility as he continues to adapt to a reality imposed on him by explosive remnants of war.

Hassan’s story reflects the reality faced by many civilians living in conflict-affected areas, where mines and unexploded ordnance continue to threaten lives and cause permanent injuries, even years after the fighting has ended.

The impact of weapon contamination extends far beyond physical injuries. It also affects the psychological, social, and economic well-being of individuals and families. True recovery does not begin simply when a conflict ends; it begins when the dangers that prevent communities from returning to their normal lives are removed.

By admin