Clearing the Way for Safer Communities: Restoring Access to Water and Livelihoods in Rural Damascus

Across Syria, explosive ordnance (EO) contamination continues to threaten lives and hinder communities’ ability to rebuild. For many communities, EO contamination limits safe access to land, prevents children from reaching schools safely, restricts access to markets and essential services, and undermines families’ efforts to restore their lives and livelihoods. According to the Syria Mine Action Areas of Responsibility, most EO-related incidents have occurred in agricultural and grazing zones. Since December 2024, there have been 1,414 EO-related incidents reported as of 28 August 2026, resulting in 2,479 casualties, including 873 fatalities and 1,606 injuries, many of whom are children.  

According to DRC assessments in Rural Damascus, Dar’a, Idlib, and Hama, 64% of households reported areas they no longer access due to fear of contamination, with 70% of these areas being agricultural land. EO contamination threatens communities’ access to fertile land, water resources, and livelihoods. This remains one of the key risks facing residents of the village of Deir Khabiyeh in Rural Damascus, where agriculture continues to be a primary source of income. As part of DRC’s ongoing land release efforts, Non-Technical Survey teams identified EO items submerged in an agricultural irrigation channel near the village. This threat posed a significant risk to community members, particularly farmers who rely on those canals to irrigate their land and provide water for their livestock. In addition to the direct physical threat to civilians, the submerged projectiles also risked damaging critical irrigation infrastructure and disrupting access to water.  

Before the conflict, the irrigation canal was widely used by surrounding communities for irrigation, livestock watering, and daily access to water. Due to the presence of EO contamination, many community members avoided the area, while others continued to access the canal despite the risks due to lack of viable alternatives. In some cases, families and farmers were forced to travel longer distances to access alternative water sources, resulting in increased fuel costs, additional time spent, and reduced efficiency in agricultural and livelihood activities. 

This intervention enabled community members to safely access the irrigation channel again and resume agricultural activities without EO-related risks or concerns.