I Thought It Was Just an Ordinary Object: An Incident Highlights the Importance of Awareness in War-Affected Areas
On 19 May 2026, Imad Abdulrahman Sinu, a displaced person from Sere Kaniye/Ras al-Ain who lives in Tal Masas village in the Tal Tamr area, was injured when a war-remnant object exploded while he was grazing sheep.
Imad says:
“I was grazing the sheep and throwing stones casually. I did not expect the object near me to be dangerous. It suddenly exploded, and its fragments injured my hand, parts of my fingers, and my foot. I did not lose consciousness after the incident. I remember that my neighbours helped me and took me to a hospital in Tal Tamr.”
He adds:
“I did not know that an object like this could explode. Today, I have four children, three of whom attend school, and I have become more worried about them. They need awareness, and perhaps I also needed it before this incident happened to me.”
Meanwhile, Adnan al-Darbo, principal of Tal Masas School, says the incident has raised concerns among local residents, explaining:
“Parents have become more cautious and attentive to their children, whether while they are playing and moving around the village or on their way to school.”
He adds:
“Over the past years, we have received only one awareness session, and this is not enough, especially as war remnants continue to be present in the area.”
Adnan al-Darbo notes that more than 100 displaced families live in the village, while some are approaching the point of returning to their areas of origin, which remain contaminated with war remnants.
Under these circumstances, raising awareness about the risks of mines and explosive remnants of war remains essential for residents, particularly children and displaced families returning to areas where war remnants may still be present.

