Clearing the Path to Stability

Addressing Explosive Remnants of War in Syria

On January 22nd, The HALO Trust (USA) and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) co-hosted a webinar highlighting the humanitarian catastrophe caused by landmines in Syria.

Syrian refugees, internally displaced people, and civilians across the country have faced the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance for over a decade. Now, thousands of families are returning to find their homes and communities littered with explosive hazards, creating a humanitarian emergency. HALO has already recorded 287 civilian casualties from landmines since the fall of the Assad regime in December of 2024 – including 98 children. In addition to the humanitarian need, demining is critical to Syrian stability and democratization, as landmines prohibit infrastructure development, return of civilians to their homes and livelihoods, and recovery from conflict at all levels.

At the webinar, Representative Chrissy Houlahan, a Co-Chair of the UXO/Demining Caucus and a champion for humanitarian demining in Congress, gave moving remarks about the pressing humanitarian needs in Syria and how demining is critical for post-conflict recovery.
HALO and MAG are the world’s largest humanitarian demining organizations, and have operations in Northwest and Northeast Syria, respectively. Attendees heard from Andrew Moore, HALO’s Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan, and Najat El Hamri, MAG’s Regional Director for the Middle East, on the ongoing efforts to clear Syria of landmines, improvised explosive devices, and other unexploded ordnance. The demining experts also discussed the increased need for resources and access following the fall of the Assad regime, and the major barriers to operating in Syria.

Attendees also heard from Charles Lister, Senior Fellow, Director of Syria and Countering Terrorism & Extremism programs at the Middle East Institute, who discussed the broader political and security situation in Syria, current and future U.S. engagement, and the need for demining moving forward.

Thank you to all our panelists, and to all attendees. Please find a recording of the webinar below.