Syria to Launch First National Landmine Distribution Map
Syria’s Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed Al-Saleh, has announced that the ministry will soon launch the country’s first comprehensive map documenting the distribution of landmines and explosive remnants of war. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the “FORTIX 2026” International Security and Safety Exhibition in Syria.
Al-Saleh stated that this initiative is a key component of the National Mine Action Strategy, which is set to be implemented over the next three years. The primary objective of the map is to precisely identify contaminated areas, thereby facilitating more professional and secure removal operations.
According to the Minister, landmines and war remnants represent significant obstacles to Syria’s development. He emphasized that these hazards pose a direct threat to the lives of civilians, particularly children, and continue to obstruct reconstruction projects and the rehabilitation of agricultural land for investment.
To strengthen national capabilities, Al-Saleh noted that the ministry is actively working to exchange expertise and adopt modern demining technologies through international cooperation with Germany and Ukraine. These efforts include reciprocal visits by technical teams; Syria recently hosted a Ukrainian delegation and is preparing to send a Syrian team to Ukraine soon. Additionally, the ministry is pursuing partnerships with other nations and international organizations to further develop domestic technical skills.
On the regional front, the Minister announced plans to establish a joint operations room with Turkey to address emergencies along the 910-kilometer border. This initiative aims to improve coordination in responding to natural disasters, such as fires and floods. The proposal follows experiences from the past year, with the fluctuating water levels of the Euphrates River cited as a primary factor for the need for enhanced cross-border cooperation.
In relation to the management of displaced persons, the Minister reported that over 165 camps have been closed in the past six months, with an additional 220 currently in the process of being shut down. As part of the “Syria Without Camps” vision, the ministry has launched more than 238 projects across Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama. Al-Saleh stated that the goal is to resolve this issue by the end of 2027 by ensuring safe conditions for the voluntary and sustainable return of residents to their original areas. These efforts focus on rehabilitating critical infrastructure and clearing rubble to provide stability for returning families.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
