Mine Action in Northwest Syria

This project seeks to reduce the impact of explosive ordnance (EO) contamination on communities including internally displaced persons (IDPs) in six districts in Northwest Syria. The project supports the Syrian Civil Defence (SCD) to identify and clear unexploded ordnance and educate communities on these hazards causing a significant barrier to stabilization efforts. Project activities include: (1) conducting non-technical surveys and clearance activities in districts contaminated by explosive ordnances; (2) providing training to new and current recruits including women volunteers; (3) equipping SCD volunteers with equipment and materials to conduct clearance and survey activities; (4) providing explosive ordnance risk education through age-appropriate and gender-sensitive risk awareness sessions to affected populations; and (5) designing and distributing risk awareness materials in targeted districts.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access by targeted communities including women and girls to critical infrastructure in six sub-districts of northwest Syria; (2) reduction in the number of items of EO present in targeted communities of six sub-districts; (3) increased public knowledge in the targeted communities to reduce and mitigate the risks of EO including among women children and other vulnerable populations; and (4) strengthened capacity of SCD teams to provide EO services to affected communities in six sub-districts.