More than 200,000 people fleeing renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have crossed into Syria, many unknowingly entering one of the most heavily mine-contaminated countries in the world. Southern regions such as rural Damascus, Homs and Daraa are riddled with unexploded ordnance left from years of civil war, creating a deadly threat for displaced families seeking safety.

Since late 2024, humanitarian groups have recorded more than 700 deaths and 1,900 injuries from explosive remnants, with children accounting for roughly 40 percent of injuries and nearly one third of fatalities. The danger is especially acute for families returning to unfamiliar or long-abandoned farmland, where more than 60 percent of accidents occur. Ongoing regional violence, including missile debris falling into Syrian territory, is adding new hazards to already contaminated land.

Aid organizations are expanding risk education and clearance efforts, but severe funding shortages are limiting their ability to respond to the growing influx. With hundreds of thousands more people potentially set to cross the border, experts warn that without greater resources to remove explosives and raise awareness, casualty numbers are likely to continue rising.