With the war in Syria over, a new danger remains.
Landmines and unexploded bombs lie hidden across towns, villages, and farmland, making nowhere truly safe for returning families.
Children are particularly at risk, with an estimated one child a day killed or injured by leftover explosives.
MAG has over 250 staff in Syria, including 10 clearance teams and 10 community liaison teams, working urgently to reduce this deadly threat.
With active conflict ended in many areas, MAG can now, if funding permits, operate in places that were previously too dangerous. Clearance has begun, but it is painstaking work that will take years. Until then, life-saving risk education is essential.
As MAG’s Community Liaison Manager, Fatima Abdi, explains, “Risk education is vital for the millions living under the constant threat of explosive ordnance. By giving at-risk communities the knowledge they need to protect themselves, we promote safer behaviour and directly reduce injuries and casualties in Syria. Risk education is not only a life-saving measure, it’s a foundation for recovery, development, and a safer future.”
The danger is felt most acutely by families. In Khan Shaykhoun, Abdul and Omar were playing outside when they found something in the rubble. Believing it was a toy, they picked it up. Seconds later, an explosion tore their lives apart.
Abdul, 10, lost his right leg while his left is now held together by a metal frame.
Abdul, 10. Credit: MAG/Emily Garthwaite
Omar, 5, suffered similar injuries. Their brother Hasan did not survive.
Omar, 5. Credit: MAG/Emily Garthwaite
Their mother, Mehreen, recalls: “I heard them playing and walked outside and, just as I asked them what they were doing, the explosion happened.” Their father, Mohammed, adds: “If I had all the money, I’d give it to see my boys playing again. Our country needs help so our children can be safe.”
Despite the risks, MAG teams continue to clear explosives and protect communities. Technical Field Manager Mofida Majthoub leads operations in northeast Syria. “Whether it’s cluster munitions, mines, or IEDs, it’s not about the number of items I’m removing,” she says. “It’s about the people and the lives we are saving.”
Deputy Team Leader Maya Hussain began as a deminer at 19 and now oversees a team of 10 almost a decade later. “Finding mines makes me happy because we’re saving lives. Everyone is responsible for building a good future, a good country,” she says.
Fatima Abdi manages 10 community liaison teams, going door-to-door in remote villages to warn families and gather vital information. “We don’t start from the authorities, we start from the people,” she explains.
MAG Team Leader Faisal Barkal
Many MAG staff know the risks firsthand. Former schoolteacher Faisal Barkal was almost killed by an explosive device planted in his home. Gravely injured, he dedicated his life to clearance. “Every time I found a mine, I remembered what happened to me,” he says. “But now, I feel relief, because removing one more mine means saving more lives.”
MAG Deminer Maya Jolo
Younger recruits like 22-year-old Maya Jolo see their work as part of rebuilding Syria. “Demining is part of peacebuilding,” she says. “If we still have mines, people will not feel safe. So it’s better to clear the land so they can use it safely and live in peace.”
The dangers extend beyond minefields.
Haji Al-Ahmad (far right)
Carpenter Haji Al-Ahmad lost his foot collecting truffles and now struggles to support his wife and newborn.
Farmer Ahmed Al-Raji returned to his 100-acre farm to find it littered with explosives; two shepherds died and a child from a neighbouring farm was blinded.
Youseff Mohammed Al-Ibrahim, 11, mistook bullets for toys; one exploded in his hand. His father recalls: “When he woke up in bed, he looked at his hands and kept measuring them. He thought he was dreaming.”
Until Syria is cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance, these tragedies will continue. MAG is using every available channel to reach communities: training teachers, partnering with bakeries to print safety messages on bread bags, and launching a television campaign. Each message, whether in a school, shop, or living room, can prevent the next tragedy.
The road to recovery will be long, but if we act now, through clearance, education, continued funding and commitment from the international community, Syria’s children can look forward to a future free from fear.
