A February 2025 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report stated that ‘50% of the country’s infrastructure has been destroyed or rendered dysfunctional’ due to the conflict.852 According to NRC, across Syria there is widespread destruction of essential services and infrastructure including homes, agricultural land, hospitals, sewage systems, and roads, rendering many areas uninhabitable. Accessing basic services is particularly challenging in and around Aleppo, Rural Damascus, Homs, and Dar’a according to surveyed individuals by NRC. Vital water and electrical infrastructure such as the Tishreen Dam (Aleppo governorate) and the Alouk Water Station (Hasaka governorate) remained inoperable as of May 2025 after being impacted by the conflict, while access to electricity is particularly challenging in southern and central Syria.853
Unexploded ordnance (UXOs), explosive remnants of war (ERWs), mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are reportedly widespread and affect residential areas, farmland, infrastructure, and key access routes, particularly in Idlib, Deir Ez-Zor, Aleppo, Raqqa, Hasaka, and Rural Damascus governorates.854 Deir Ez-Zor remains one of the most heavily contaminated areas, accounting for approximately a quarter of all such incidents.855
According to UNOCHA, there were over 1 000 civilian casualties, including 414 fatalities and 592 injuries, reported due to UXOs and ERWs between 8 December 2024 and 27 May 2025. Nearly one-third of the casualties were children.856 The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) stated that the casualties resulted from landmines and UXOs in Syria between December 2024 and May 2025 represent 15 % of those reported globally for the year 2023.857
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and partners conducted 1 500 clearance operations since August 2023 and delivered 930 risk education sessions to around 17 000 persons.858 The Mine Action Sector in Syria remains critically underfunded, having received only 13 % of the USD 51 million required for 2024.859
- 852
UNDP, The Impact of the Conflict in Syria, 20 February 2025, url, p. 4
- 853
NRC, Beyond Return: Ensuring sustainable recovery & (re)-integration in Syria, 15 May 2025, url, pp. 5-6
- 854
UNOCHA, Syrian Arab Republic: Humanitarian Situation Report No. 5 (As of 28 April 2025), 8 May 2025, url, p. 3
- 855
UNOCHA, Syrian Arab Republic Humanitarian Situation Report No. 6 As of 27 May 2025, 2 June 2025, url, p. 2
- 856
UNOCHA, Syrian Arab Republic Humanitarian Situation Report No. 6 As of 27 May 2025, 2 June 2025, url, p. 2
- 857
MAG, A new landmine crisis in the Middle East, 27 May 2025, url
- 858
UNMAS, Syria, May 2025, url
- 859
UNMAS, Syria, May 2025, url; HI, MA AoR, Protection Cluster Explosive ordnance contamination remains the main safety risk for Syrians – Syria MA AoR Situation Update No.3 (April), 13 May 2025, url