Residents of the village of al-Gharyah in the Homs countryside gathered olives from their trees in late October, a simple act of harvesting that carried profound significance after nearly 14 years of disruption caused by the Syrian civil war. The olive harvest, a cornerstone of the rural economy and cultural life, had been largely impossible for villagers due to ongoing conflict and the presence of landmines.
The resumption of harvesting in al-Gharyah follows a demining operation conducted by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), in coordination with the Syrian government and supported by international organizations. According to a statement released by SARC on October 26th, teams cleared over 30 hectares of farmland in the area, removing hundreds of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. The operation focused on olive groves and wheat fields, aiming to restore agricultural livelihoods for the local population.
“The land was a death trap,” said Khalil Ibrahim, a farmer from al-Gharyah, speaking to local media. “We couldn’t even think about working our land for years. Every step was a risk. Now, thanks to the demining teams, People can finally start to rebuild our lives.”
The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, has left a legacy of widespread contamination from explosive remnants of war, including landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unexploded ordnance. The conflict has displaced millions of Syrians and devastated the country’s agricultural sector. Homs province, once a major agricultural hub, has been particularly affected, with vast areas of farmland rendered unusable due to the presence of mines and other hazards.
While the demining operation in al-Gharyah represents a positive step, the scale of the challenge remains immense. The Syrian Mine Action Center (SMAC), the government body responsible for mine clearance, estimates that over 80% of Syrian territory is contaminated with explosive remnants of war. International organizations involved in mine action in Syria, including the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), have repeatedly warned of the long-term humanitarian and development consequences of the contamination.
UNMAS reported in October that Syria is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, with contamination levels exceeding those in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. The organization estimates that it will take decades and billions of dollars to clear all the explosive remnants of war from Syria.
The resumption of the olive harvest in al-Gharyah is not isolated. Similar demining operations have been conducted in other parts of the Homs countryside and in other Syrian provinces, including Aleppo and Damascus. Yet, progress is often hampered by security concerns, funding shortages, and the ongoing conflict. Access to contaminated areas remains a significant challenge for demining teams.
The Syrian government has consistently called for increased international assistance for mine action, but cooperation has been complicated by political considerations and sanctions imposed on the Syrian regime. Western governments and international organizations have expressed concerns about ensuring that assistance reaches those in necessitate and is not diverted for military purposes.
Despite the challenges, the ongoing demining efforts offer a glimmer of hope for communities like al-Gharyah, allowing residents to reclaim their land and rebuild their livelihoods. The olive harvest, a symbol of resilience and tradition, is a tangible sign of progress in a country scarred by years of conflict. As of November 2nd, the Syrian government has not announced further expansions of the demining program, nor have international partners pledged additional funding beyond existing commitments.
