2.3.6. Conflict-related infrastructure damage and explosive remnants of war

Table of contents

Landmines and UXO continued to be a serious threat in Hama governorate,631 and Hama city was one of the most heavily contaminated cities with ERWs.632 As of January 2026, 55 % of key informants in an IOM assessment monitoring return movements and conditions for reintegration633 reported the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance in Hama governorate.634 During the period between 8 December 2024 and April 2026, SNHR documented 45 civilians killed by landmines in the governorate. In addition, 6 civilians were killed by remnants of cluster munitions.635 Several further landmine explosions caused civilian deaths in Hama between April and May 2026.636

  • 631

    IOM, Syrian Arab Republic, Communities of Return Index, January 2026 – Round 4, 2 April 2026, url, p. 7; CIR, The ongoing death: How Russian-made mines are killing Syrians and destroying their forgotten lands, 19 March 2026, url

  • 632

    Handicap International, Landminen in Syrien [Landmines in Syria], last updated 16 March 2026, url

  • 633

    Data was collected between 1 January and 4 February 2026, including through a network of 11 343 key informants in all Syrian governorates. IOM, Syrian Arab Republic, Communities of Return Index, January 2026 – Round 4, 2 April 2026, url, p. 20

  • 634

    IOM, Syrian Arab Republic, Communities of Return Index, January 2026 – Round 4, 2 April 2026, url, p. 7

  • 635

    SNHR, On the International Day for Mine Awareness: Documenting the deaths of at least 3,799 civilians from landmines and cluster munitions in Syria, March 2011 – April 2026, 4 April 2026, url, pp. 8-9

  • 636

    SOHR, Old ordnance | Young man killed and his wife loses her feet in Hama countryside, 21 May 2026, url; SOHR, Old ordnance | Child Killed in Hama desert, 16 May 2026, url; SOHR, Old ordnance | Young man dies in landmine explosion while working in Hama, 9 May 2026, url; SNHR, Three children were killed by a landmine explosion in the Tal Salma area of Hama Governorate on April 13, 2026.,14 April 2026, url; SNHR, Ammar Taqala was killed by a landmine explosion, a remnant of the conflict, in the Badia region of Hama Governorate on April 27, 2026., 29 April 2026, url