Syria

The fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 has enabled a shift to a countrywide approach to mine action coordination, with operators reporting improved access and cooperation. Clearance output increased in 2024 while survey output fell, but operators have been expanding survey and clearance capacity in 2025 to reach previously inaccessible areas. However, major challenges remain, including a surge in casualties, persistent funding shortfalls, the absence of a national contamination baseline, only nascent managerial capacity in the transitional government, and ongoing security risks.

• Syria should accede to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) as a matter of priority.

• Syria should urgently establish a baseline of anti-personnel (AP) mined area to enable effective prioritisation and planning, with particular focus on agricultural land due to its importance for food security and economic recovery, and the high number of victims.

• Syria should continue strengthening the structure and capacities of its national mine action programme in close collaboration with the Syria Mine Action Area of Responsibility (MA AoR) and partners, as well as with other stakeholders promoting application of the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) for establishment of a mine action programme (IMAS 02.10).

• Syria should continue to strengthen coordination mechanisms and information management by promoting consistent, timely data sharing among all mine action operators and integrating the Northeast Syria Mine Action Centre (NESMAC) into a unified national system.

• Syria should develop national mine action standards (NMAS) in consultation with operators and ensure their application across all survey and clearance activities.

• Syria should systematically assess and address informal clearance practices by untrained civilians, which pose severe risks to life.

Click here to download the "Clearing the Mines 2025" report for Syria.