Syria remains one of the countries most contaminated by explosive ordnance (EO), posing an ongoing threat to community safety and hindering return and recovery efforts. As of 24 October 2024, 1,496 EO-related incidents have been reported since December 2024, with 2,581 casualties.
While it is estimated that the actual number of incidents is likely higher than officially reported, these figures highlight the urgent need for Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) interventions, including Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), to protect civilians and support recovery across the country.
The continued threat of EO highlights the need for a comprehensive mine action response that addresses both the threat of explosive hazards themselves and the risks faced by communities.
Survey and clearance are essential to making access to land safer and supporting recovery, while EORE helps people recognise potential dangers and make informed decisions to protect themselves and their families.
This is particularly important for children, returnees, and people who depend on access to land and natural resources for their livelihoods, including farmers and herders who may encounter explosive hazards in their daily activities.
Alongside its Land Release efforts, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), with funding from the Syria Humanitarian Fund (SHF), is strengthening EORE efforts to help protect communities.
DRC is building the capacity of its staff members and local actors to raise awareness of explosive ordnance risks and ensure that life-saving information reaches affected communities.
As part of these efforts, trained DRC staff delivered EORE Training of Trainers (ToT), aligned with IMAS competency standards, to community focal points, volunteers, teachers and other local actors from three communities in Rural Damascus.
Through this training, participants gained the knowledge and skills to disseminate life-saving EO risk awareness messages within their communities, including in hard-to-reach areas.
By strengthening local capacities and leveraging trusted community networks, this approach extends the reach and sustainability of EORE activities, improves access to essential safety information and contributes to reducing communities' exposure to EO-related risks.
For participants in the ToT, the training strengthened their knowledge and understanding of EO risks, while highlighting the critical role of EORE in protecting their communities.
It also reinforced the importance of sharing this knowledge to raise awareness, promote safer behaviours, and help community members better protect themselves and their families from the dangers of EO. Participants of the ToT were provided with age appropriate materials including flip charts and flyers for use in their community sessions.
Ezzeddine, a member of a local non-governmental organisation, reflected on the training:
“This training strengthened my understanding of the importance of awareness sessions in areas contaminated by explosive ordnance. They are just as important as clearance efforts.”
He also highlighted how he could share what he learned with different community groups, including his family, friends, and the communities his organisation serves.
“This training strengthened my understanding of the importance of awareness sessions in areas contaminated by explosive ordnance. They are just as important as clearance efforts.”
Ezzeddine, one of the participants of the training.
For Rawaa, another participant in the training, it increased her awareness of the dangers posed by unfamiliar objects and the importance of recognising potential hazards.
“Before the training, I did not know much about explosive ordnance. Now, I understand that an unfamiliar object could be dangerous, something I had not considered before.”
Rawaa also emphasised the need for ongoing awareness activities, particularly for children and people returning to areas affected by conflict, who may be unfamiliar with the risks they face.
“Communities need awareness activities because the conflict has left behind explosive ordnance, especially threatening children and returnees who may not know about these dangers. Awareness helps reduce the risks they face.”
Through capacity building efforts, DRC aims to extend the reach of risk education. By sharing knowledge within their communities, facilitators can help people recognise potential dangers, adopt safer behaviours, and understand how to report suspicious items through appropriate channels.
By investing in local capacity, DRC is strengthening the foundations for safer, more resilient communities. Equipping local actors with the knowledge and skills to deliver EORE extends the reach of life-saving messages, embeds essential safety knowledge within communities, and enables sustained outreach to people at risk.
Alongside land release activities, these efforts are critical to protecting lives, reducing exposure to EO, and creating the conditions for communities to safely access land, restore livelihoods, and rebuild their lives.
