Syria: Explosive ordnance continues to injure and kill civilians in Deir Ez-Zor amid limited access to healthcare

Between April 2025 and April 2026, MSF and DoH teams in the emergency room of Deir Ez-Zor National Hospital treated more than 215 people injured by landmines, unexploded ordnance, and abandoned explosives. Nearly half of the patients were children. During this period, 24 people died from their injuries, and 58 patients underwent traumatic amputations.

Deir Ez-Zor remains one of the areas most heavily contaminated by explosive ordnance in Syria. 

Civilians are often injured while carrying out daily activities such as farming, herding livestock, collecting truffles, or returning to damaged homes and buildings. Children are particularly at risk while playing outdoors or exploring abandoned buildings. Many survivors travel long and dangerous distances from remote areas to reach emergency care, often without access to ambulances.

“For the year that we’ve been working here, we’ve seen over 215 patients suffering from blast injuries, including children and farmers working their land,” said Rebecca Kerr, MSF project coordinator in Deir Ez-Zor.

Unfortunately, even today, we’re still seeing civilians being impacted by these explosives. Without improved trauma care, rehabilitation services, and clearance of contaminated land, these injuries will continue.”

Extremely limited access to healthcare 

Despite the high number of trauma survivors and amputees, access to rehabilitation, prosthetics and orthotics, specialized mental health care, and socio-economic support remains severely limited, leaving many patients unable to recover or regain their independence.

Mohammad, a young man from Deir Ez-Zor who lost both legs above the knee after stepping on a landmine while working his land, described how his life has changed: 

Before, I worked every day and supported myself. Now I spend most of my time at home, and I depend on my family for almost everything. If I had access to artificial limbs, maybe I could regain part of my life.”

Medical staff at DNH also highlight the economic pressures driving risk-taking behavior. “Some people knowingly enter mined areas to graze their flocks or gather truffles,” said Dr. Waseem Awak, resident doctor in the emergency and orthopedic departments. “In some cases, we treat multiple members of the same family.”

Access to emergency trauma care remains a major challenge across the governorate. Shortages of specialized medical staff, limited equipment, and weak post-discharge services increase the risk of complications and death. 

The number of injuries often exceeds the hospital’s capacity,” said Dr. Ammar Al Rajab, head of the DNH orthopedic department. “Post-discharge care is particularly weak, with a critical lack of prosthetics specialists and rehabilitation services.”