KarunaNews Story

Following the fall of the al-Assad regime in December 2024, reports of deaths and injuries from war remnants, including anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, began to emerge. Years of urban fighting left Aleppo not only with destroyed buildings, but also with an urban land infested with booby-traps, unexploded ordnance, and improvised landmines. Syrian women have shown up to tackle this crucial job. Ola Al-Jaber, 29, of the Syrian Civil Defense team in Aleppo, notes that the months after the fall of the regime were exceptionally busy for her and her colleagues. “When the regime fell, we knew that all of Syria was probably contaminated with war remnants. There were very few mine-clearing experts in the country, so we [women] decided to redouble our efforts to save lives and help people return safely. To us, clearing one mine means a new life.” The work of clearing war remnants is extremely dangerous. But the weary faces and unbroken spirits of these fearless and determined Syrian women bravely confront the post-war dangers of searching for and dismantling mines, working tirelessly day and night to save lives and rebuild the cities they long for.