Syria: Demining urgently needed in Raqqa as MSF treats 33 blast victims in one week

Patients sustain these injuries on returning to their homes in a city littered with unexploded remnants of war and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

MSF is extremely concerned by the limited amount of demining activities in the region, due to a shortage of demining equipment and expertise.

Thousands of residents have returned to the city and it is predicted that many more will arrive. IEDs and unexploded remnants of war remain a major threat to these people, and unless more demining activities take place, high numbers of blast victims including children seem likely in the months to come.

Residents of Raqqa want to be able to return safely to their homes, businesses and fields.  MSF calls strongly on all warring parties and their allies, as well as demining organisations and donors, to increase mine clearance of people’s homes and of suburbs and to increase mine risk education services to protect people from these catastrophic but avoidable deaths and injuries. 

ENDS

Note to editors: MSF provides medical care services free of charge to people in need regardless of religion, race or political affiliation. MSF does not accept funding from any government, religious committee or international agency for its programmes in Syria. ​