Agreement Signed Between Syrian and Ukrainian Authorities
Syrian and Ukrainian officials signed an agreement on Sunday designed to expedite the clearance of landmines within Syria and facilitate the rehabilitation of agricultural zones. The deal establishes a framework for utilizing Ukrainian expertise in mine detection and technical surveying of contaminated territories, with a specific focus on farming lands.
Details of the Cooperation Framework
According to reports from Al-Ikhbariya, the official Syrian news channel, the pact was concluded between the National Center for Mine Action under the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management in Syria, and the Humanitarian Center for Mine Action and Explosive Remnants of War, which operates under Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy and Environment. While the broadcast did not specify the exact location of the signing ceremony or identify the individual officials who finalized the accord, it emphasized that the primary objective is to leverage Kyiv’s specialized knowledge in demining operations.
The agreement lays the groundwork for organizing field visits by Ukrainian teams and experts to Syria. These missions will allow specialists to inspect areas characterized by high concentrations of landmines and other war remnants. Officials stated that the initiative aims to speed up the removal process, restore agricultural productivity, and support broader recovery and reconstruction efforts across the country.
Ongoing Demining Efforts and Historical Context
Relevant authorities in Syria, alongside international organizations including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), continue to conduct field operations in various regions to locate landmines and unexploded ordnance left behind by years of conflict. Data from the Landmine Monitor indicates that since 2011, unexploded ordnance in Syria has resulted in more than 13,000 casualties.
Syrian authorities periodically announce incidents involving fatalities or injuries caused by the detonation of war remnants. These accidents are linked to the fourteen-year war waged by the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, which lasted from 2011 until its fall on December 8, 2024. The prolonged conflict resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and injuries, alongside massive destruction of infrastructure throughout the nation.
