Casualty Overview

In 2011, 20 new civilian mine casualties (six killed, four injured and ten of unknown status) were identified in Syria. In June, 10 civilian casualties occurred when a fire reportedly detonated antipersonnel mines at the border with Israel. Of the 10 casualties in this incident, it is not known exactly how many people were killed and injured.[1] Between October and December, four men (three Lebanese and one Syrian) were injured by antipersonnel mines in three separate incidents.[2] In December, one Syrian man was killed by an antivehicle mine.[3] These five adult male casualties occurred along the border with Lebanon and are suspected to have been caused by antipersonnel and antivehicle mines newly planted in 2011. In December, five boys were killed by a mine in Quneitra.[4]

During the first five months of 2012, 19 new mine casualties were reported in Syria. Most of these occurred along the borders with Lebanon, Turkey and Israel and were suspected to be caused by mines planted in late 2011 and early 2012. In January, a vehicle traveling in the Turkish border area between Jisr al-Shughour and Al Zawiya detonated an antivehicle mine, causing two casualties.[5] In February, a boy was injured and a man was killed by an antipersonnel mine on the Lebanese border near Tel Kalakh;[6] two boys were killed by a suspected antivehicle mine in Idlib, near Turkey;[7] and a man was injured by an antipersonnel mine at a Lebanese border crossing.[8] In March, a man was injured by an antipersonnel mine after stepping on landmine in Bqaiaa, along the Lebanese border.[9] In February and March, on the Turkish border, one man was injured and another nine civilians were injured by antipersonnel mines.[10] In May, a woman was injured by an antipersonnel mine in Kwdana near the Israeli border.[11]

The numbers of casualties identified in 2011 and through May 2012 represent a significant increase from the previous years. In 2010, no casualties were identified in Syria and in 2009, a single casualty was reported when a child was killed by an antivehicle mine in Quneitra governorate.[12]

The total number of mine/explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualties recorded in Syria between 1967 and the end of 2011 is at least 679 (226 killed, 443 injured and 10 of unknown status).[13] In the absence of a national casualty data collection mechanism, it is possible that there have been unrecorded casualties.

At least five casualties from cluster munition remnant incidents have been recorded, including four child casualties in 2007.[14]

Victim Assistance

Estimates of the total number of survivors range from 210 to 330.[15] No information was available on efforts made in 2011 to collect data on mine/ERW survivors or to assess their needs.

Victim assistance coordination and survivor inclusion

Syria has no specific victim assistance coordination body, plan, or focal point. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor coordinates all disability planning and activities.[16] The Mine Survivor Care Association, led by a mine survivor, worked with the ministry to ensure the involvement of survivors.[17]

In 2011, implementation of the national antidiscrimination law for persons with disabilities remained ineffective.[18] Syria ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 10 July 2009.