Geneva, June 22 (SANA) A conference on mine action in Syria opened Monday in Geneva, bringing together Syrian officials, international partners, donors and humanitarian organizations to discuss priorities for addressing landmine and unexploded ordnance contamination across the country.
The three-day conference, chaired by Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh and organized in partnership with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), is supported by the European Union, Germany and Switzerland.
The Syrian delegation includes representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and Agriculture, as well as specialists and technical experts from the Syrian National Mine Action Centre.
The conference aims to strengthen coordination between Syria, donors and implementing partners, develop a shared understanding of national priorities and capacities, and identify practical steps to accelerate mine-clearance efforts and support affected communities.
Addressing participants at the opening session, al-Saleh described mine action as a top national priority, stressing that the issue is directly linked to the protection of civilians, reconstruction and the return of refugees and displaced persons, as well as food security and sustainable development.
“There can be no safe return without safe land, and no sustainable stability without removing this deadly threat,” al-Saleh said.
He noted that Syria inherited a complex legacy of contamination after years of war and said the deposed regime had failed to establish a comprehensive national framework for managing mine action despite the growing risks posed to civilians.
Al-Saleh said the government had established the Syrian National Mine Action Centre as a unified national authority to lead planning, coordination and priority-setting in the sector.
He said the centre is developing a national system that includes contamination mapping, databases, standardized procedures and improved information management to strengthen coordination among local and international partners.
The minister stressed that tackling the scale of contamination in Syria requires collective efforts from the United Nations, international and local organizations, donors and private-sector partners with expertise in mine clearance and related technologies.
He said Syria’s mine action strategy focuses on strengthening national capacities, expanding survey and clearance operations, improving information systems, adopting modern technologies, raising awareness of explosive ordnance risks and supporting victims and survivors.
Al-Saleh also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to transparency and information-sharing, describing reliable data and open coordination as essential to the success of mine action efforts.
He said mine clearance represents “an investment in humanity, life and stability,” helping save lives, restore access to land and services, and facilitate the safe and voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons.
The minister expressed hope that the conference would contribute to accelerating efforts to eliminate the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance in Syria and support the country’s recovery and long-term stability.
R.D/ABD
