U.S. Calls for Global Responsibility in Syrian Detention Camps

In the three months following the fall of the Assad regime, Syria has seen over 200 casualties, including women and children, due to unexploded ordnance, according to the Halo Trust, the world’s largest landmine charity. Approximately 1.2 million displaced individuals have returned to their homes amidst the remnants of 14 years of civil conflict. Experts warn that "no area in Syria is safe" from these hazards, with Mohammed Sami Al Mohammed, a mine action coordinator for the Syrian Civil Defence, indicating that complete clearance may take decades. An earlier UN report noted that one-third of the victims of these unexploded munitions are children, who often mistake the remnants for toys. Volunteers like Fahd al-Ghajar, who was tragically killed by a landmine while demining, are risking their lives to make these areas safe for families returning home. Al-Ghajar, who had previously served in the Syrian army, dedicated his efforts to removing mines, stating, "We must stand by these people and remove the mines to help them return to their homes."

In the three months following the fall of the Assad regime, over 200 individuals, including women and children, have died from incidents involving unexploded ordnance in Syria. As approximately 1.2 million displaced residents return to their homes, the risk from scattered landmines and munitions remains dangerously high, according to the Halo Trust, a landmine charity that reports 640 people killed or injured so far, with one-third being children. Mine action expert Mohammed Sami Al Mohammed, from the Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets), noted, "No area in Syria is safe from war remnants." His assessment reflects the expansive presence of explosive remnants from 14 years of civil conflict, with significant casualties occurring in rural and urban areas hit hardest by fighting. Al Mohammed stated that it could take decades to make Syria safe, referencing other war-torn countries still struggling with similar dangers. Volunteer deminers, such as Fahd al-Ghajar, have been working tirelessly in the field, often at great personal risk. Tragically, Ghajar was killed in a mine explosion on February 21 while clearing land, highlighting the ongoing peril faced by those trying to help their communities recover.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 1,383 civilians, primarily from the Alawite minority, have been killed amid a surge of sectarian violence along Syria's Mediterranean coast. The conflict flared up last week, primarily in the Alawite heartland of Latakia, Tartus, and the neighboring province of Hama, following attacks by gunmen loyal to the deposed president Bashar al-Assad against new security forces, leading to a violent backlash. According to the Observatory, the civilian deaths resulted from "executions by security forces and allied groups," with bodies discovered in farmlands and homes, indicating ongoing unrest. The UN Human Rights Office has noted that these killings appear to be carried out on a sectarian basis. In response, Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced efforts to prosecute those responsible for the violence and has established a fact-finding committee to prevent further unlawful reprisals. Amid fears among Alawites of potential vengeance for Assad's rule, at least seven arrests linked to violations have been reported since Monday.