According to the Syrian Civil Defense, the Assad regime and Russia have utilized over 60 types of munitions to target civilians in the past few years, including 11 types of internationally banned cluster munitions.
In a report released on April 4th, which marks the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the rescue group stated that war remnants from the Assad regime and Russia were one of the main reasons for civilian casualties in northwestern Syria in 2022.
The report documented 32 explosions caused by war remnants, resulting in the deaths of 29 individuals, including 13 children, and the injury of 31 others, including 22 children and a woman.
The report also revealed that there were 32 such explosions in 2021, which led to the deaths of 18 people, including 5 children, and injured 32 others, including 11 children. In 2020, there were over 60 explosions of war remnants, resulting in the deaths of 32 individuals, including 6 children and 4 women, and the injury of 65 others, including 7 children and 13 women.
The report highlights that war remnants have a detrimental effect on economic recovery and development, as well as instilling fear and anxiety among individuals and societies, leading to psychological trauma. It also contaminates soil and water sources with hazardous materials.
The Syrian Civil Defense has emphasized that cluster munitions pose a grave threat to the lives of civilians in northwestern Syria, due to their continued use by the Assad regime and Russia in their attacks against civilians.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
