Operations have begun to clear remnants of war and unexploded ordnance posing a threat to civilians in the countryside of Quneitra, in southwestern Syria. The work is being carried out by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
Field activities, which began on Monday, are taking place in several areas of Quneitra province and aim to reduce the risks threatening civilians.
Ceasefire mission in the Golan Heights
Established in 1974 by a United Nations Security Council resolution, UNDOF has monitored the ceasefire in the Syrian Golan Heights, under Israeli occupation since the June 1967 War.
Following the war in Syria, international organizations and relevant institutions have been working in different areas to remove mines, ordnance and other explosive remnants of war. The International Committee of the Red Cross is also participating in these activities.
Unexploded ordnance has affected more than 13,000 people
According to International Mine Observatory data, unexploded ordnance has caused the deaths or injuries of more than 13,000 people in Syria since 2011.
People in Syria are periodically killed or injured by exploding remnants of war. Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule ended on December 8, 2024, when armed groups entered the capital, Damascus. Assad had taken power after his father, Hafez al-Assad, ruled from 1971 to 2000.