The danger of landmines threatens the lives of children in the countryside of Ain Issa: visual documentation of an explosion during play and rudimentary attempts at dismantling
Video footage has documented two serious incidents from the countryside of the city of Ain Issa in Raqqa Governorate, northeastern Syria. The first shows an explosion that occurred while children were tampering with an explosive object, resulting in the injury of one of them and nearly costing him his life. The second shows children attempting to dismantle landmines and remnants of war using rudimentary methods, indicating an alarming level of threat posed by such remnants to civilian lives, particularly children.
According to circulated information, one of the video clips shows a number of children present in an area suspected to be a minefield, where they tampered with explosive objects, leading to an explosion that resulted in the injury of one child. No precise information has been reported regarding the identity of the injured child or his medical condition following the incident.
In another clip, children appear dismantling landmines and war remnants without any equipment or specialized supervision, in conduct that entails extreme danger and reflects a lack of adequate awareness regarding the risks posed by such objects.
These incidents occur amid the continued presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance in the countryside of Raqqa Governorate, which constitutes one of the most prominent humanitarian challenges facing the civilian population in the region for years. These remnants pose a constant threat to life, particularly for children, who may be drawn to them out of curiosity or ignorance of their dangerous nature.
Local sources have also reported the visible emergence of landmines along the western embankment near the bridge located on the Brigade 93 – Khirbat Hadla road in Ain Issa, as a result of heavy rainfall that caused soil erosion and exposed these mines on the surface. This has led to the complete obstruction of civilian movement along this vital road.
These incidents constitute a serious violation of civilians’ right to life and safety and highlight a clear failure to remove war remnants and secure residential areas. They also reflect the absence of effective community awareness programs, particularly those targeting children, regarding the dangers of landmines.
Local residents and activists are calling on the competent authorities and relevant organizations to take immediate action to remove landmines and war remnants from the area, secure vital roads, ensure the safe movement of civilians, and launch intensive awareness campaigns targeting children and families about the dangers of landmines. They also urge urgent intervention before further casualties occur, especially in light of ongoing weather conditions that may expose additional mines.
These incidents reveal an ongoing threat to civilian lives in the countryside of Ain Issa and underscore the urgent need for prompt and effective action by responsible authorities to curb such violations and protect the most vulnerable groups, foremost among them children.
